WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Residents of a northern town in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu ran into the streets today as a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the area, police said.

The quake triggering a tsunami watch that was later canceled. There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 4:14 a.m. local time and was centered 300 miles northwest of the capital, Port Vila, at a depth of 22 miles. Three more sharp quakes followed in the same area, including a magnitude 6.4 quake more than three hours later.

Vanuatu, a chain of 83 islands, is about 1,400 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia.

 


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