Thursday, March 2, 2023

6.8 Quake Hits Vanuatu Region

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes west of Luganville, Vanuatu region -USGS


An earthquake of 6.8 magnitude struck west of Luganville, Vanuatu region on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake struck 95 km (59.03 miles) west of Luganville and 33 km below the earth's surface, USGS added.




A state of emergency has been declared in Vanuatu as the devastating impact of Tropical Cyclone Judy is assessed, the government says, while the Pacific nation hunkers down again with a second tropical cyclone, Kevin, incoming.

Category 4 Cyclone Judy barrelled through Vanuatu on Wednesday causing floods, damaging homes and buildings, and leaving thousands of residents without electricity and running water.

And on top of the wild weather, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck northern Vanuatu, just off the Island of Espiritu Santo on Friday.

The quake hit 81km west-southwest of Port-Olry and occurred 10km below the Earth's surface, according to the US Geological Survey.


Vanuatu is not the only Pacific island nation feeling the wrath of tropical cyclonesJudy and Kevin.

A gale alert is being issued for parts of New Caledonia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands while Tonga – whose southern islands expect to feel the impact of Kevin on Sunday – keeps a close watch.

Fiji Meteorological Service said Cyclone Kevin is moving east-southeast at 13 knots and is expected to have average winds up to 95kph with gusts of up to 130kph.

The category 2 storm was located 410km off Santo in Vanuatu early Friday and is expected to move away from the country by midday.

New Zealand MetService said both cyclones would pass by Aotearoa, tracking “well to the north” of the country.





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