Vanuatu Earthquake September 2009

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake erupted near the South Pacific Vanuatu archipelago where it is Thursday. That quake was followed by a 7.3 aftershock, and another just 19 minutes ago at 6.2 magnitude. A tsunami alert was issued. This news is just breaking. Updates as available. See updates below.

Vanuatu

Some 200 islands may be affected. The quake struck at a depth of 21 miles, and the epicenter was 183 miles northwest of the Vanuatu island of Santo which is 354 miles of the capital city of Port Vila.

Tsunami warnings cover Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Kirbati, Kosrae, Wallis-Futunua and Howland-Baker, according to Radio New Zealand.

Check back for updates.

Update 9:44 am Australia time:
Tsunami warnings have been canceled for all areas. At 9:10 pm CDT Wednesday, I still do not find reports of damage or fatalities.