After a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck late Sunday close off the coast of the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu, terrified inhabitants fled to higher ground out of fear of a tsunami.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck on Sunday at a depth of 17 miles and had its epicenter 15 miles from Port Olry.
After issuing an alert for coasts within 186 miles of the epicenter, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre subsequently withdrew it, stating that the threat had passed.
Around 280,000 people are living in Vanuatu, which is prone to natural calamities due to its six active volcanoes, frequent cyclones, and earthquakes.
According to the US Geological Survey, the shallow earthquake occurred about 11:30 p.m. local time (12:30 GMT) and was located around 27 kilometers (17 miles) away from the Espiritu Santo village of Port-Olry.
According to Natasha Joel, a receptionist at the Grand Hotel and Casino in the city's center, people could feel the earthquake as far away as Port Vila, on the island of Etafe.
There, the quake was "a bit mild," she claimed, and no guests were taken out of the hotel.
About an hour and a half after the earthquake, the tsunami warning that had previously been issued for Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Solomon Islands were withdrawn.
Since tectonic plates collide in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where Vanuatu is located, there is frequent seismic and volcanic activity there.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands, an island country to the north of Vanuatu, in November, however, there were no reports of fatalities or significant structural damage.
More than 4,300 persons were dead or missing as a result of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and related tsunami on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island in 2018.
According to the annual World Risk Report, Vanuatu is one of the nation’s most vulnerable to natural disasters including earthquakes, storm damage, flooding, and tsunamis.
