6.3-magnitude quake strikes off Vanuatu: USGS

A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the South Pacific island of Vanuatu today, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was released.

The quake struck at a depth of 636 kilometres (395 miles) at 5:56 pm (0956 GMT) some 262 kilometres east-southeast of Sola in Vanuatu, USGS said.

There was no immediate tsunami warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Earthquakes regularly hit near Vanuatu, which lies on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire" -- a zone of frequent seismic activity caused by friction between shifting tectonic plates.