REGION HIT BY 3 MAJOR EARTHQUAKES

A Pacific tsunami warning issued following strong earthquakes off Vanuatu has been lifted, after only a small wave was generated. The first quake, with a magnitude of 7.8, struck at 9:03 a.m. (6:03 p.m. ET) at a depth of 35 km (22 miles) and an epicentre 295 km (180 miles) north-northwest of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. A second quake, with a magnitude of 7.7, struck 15 minutes later at the same depth and an epicentre of 340 km (210 miles) north-northwest of Luganville. The third quake, with a magnitude of 7.1, struck at 10:13 a.m. (7:13 p.m. ET) at about the same depth and an epicentre of 280 km (175 miles) north-northwest of Luganville. In Vanuatu residents evacuated low-lying areas and fled to higher ground. In New Caledonia, schools in coastal areas were evacuated. They were part of series of nine moderate-to-major quakes that rattled the region in just over four hours