Strong quake strikes Vanuatu in South Pacific

By Michael Byrnes

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Two strong earthquakes struck on Sunday near the archipelago of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, Australia's geological agency reported, but there were no reports of damage.

The first quake, measured at magnitude 7.3 at 0040 GMT (12:40 a.m. British time), occurred two minutes before a large quake jolted the western coast area of central Japan.

Vanuatu's second quake, at magnitude 7.1, occurred 28 minutes later.

Police on Vanuatu, an islands nation of 209,000 people which is popular with divers, said there appeared to be no damage, although buildings in the capital, Port Vila, shook when the quakes occurred.

"So far we haven't received any damage or any injury," Senior Inspector Tapeirangi Seru told Reuters by telephone from Port Vila. "There's a shaking of buildings, but not strong enough to damage the buildings here."

Vanuatu, which is around 2,000 km (1,240 miles) east of Australia, around three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia, is regularly rattled by earthquakes.

It is perched on the so-called Pacific ring of fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Its clear waters, coral reefs, volcanoes and pristine forests are a big draw for tourists.