Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes near Vanuatu Capital

Initial reports said the quake struck on Tuesday at a location 37km (22.9 miles) from the capital and a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).

Later reports placed the depth of the quake at 43km (26.7 miles), which was followed by a magnitude 5.5 aftershock near the same location.

Footage posted on social media showed buckled windows and collapsed concrete pillars on a building hosting foreign embassies in Port Vila, including those of the US, France, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the Reuters news agency reports.

There were no initial reports of injuries or deaths.

Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Vanuatu, said the quake was the biggest he had witnessed in 20 years.