Vanuatu hit by 6.5 quake

A magnitude-6.5 earthquake has struck 77 km north-west of Port Vila in Vanuatu, the US Geological Survey reports.

The tremor, which was 26.6 km below the sea floor, occurred at 1.48pm local time (3.48pm NZT).

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said historical data showed no threat of a destructive widespread tsunami.

Vanuatu is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" - an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.

Last week's devastating magnitude 9 earthquake in Japan occurred on the arc as well.

- NZHERALD STAFF, AP