Three major earthquakes have occurred near Vanuatu and the Solomon
Islands, briefly triggering a tsunami warning in the South Pacific.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the first quake Thursday morning
measured 7.8 in magnitude and occurred some 300 kilometers northwest of
Vanuatu. Two other earthquakes greater than magnitude 7 were recorded
in the same region in a little more than an hour.
A tsunami warning was issued for the area, prompting some evacuations, but the warning was later canceled.
There are no reports yet of injuries or damage.
The alert came just two weeks after an 8.3 earthquake caused tsunami waves in the Samoan islands, killing nearly 200 people.
In the Philippine Islands, a magnitude-6.7 earthquake was recorded
Thursday, nearly 300 kilometers southeast of Jolo on the Sulu
archipelago. There were no immediate reports of injuries.