Magnitude 7.2 earthquake — Sola, Vanuatu
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck near Sola, Vanuatu at a depth of about 10 km. Details, shaking intensity and any tsunami information are on the USGS event page.
Explained simply
Vanuatu is an island country in the South Pacific, north-east of Australia, made up of many volcanic islands. Sola is the main town on Vanua Lava, one of the islands in the country’s northern province.
Vanuatu lies in a region where tectonic plates meet, so earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. Strong earthquakes can damage buildings and roads, disrupt communications and, if they move the seabed, create a tsunami risk for nearby coasts.