Magnitude 6.6 earthquake strikes sea near Vanuatu, USGS says
In short
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the sea near Vanuatu on October 8, according to the US Geological Survey's earthquake information network as cited by Chinese outlets. The quake had a focal depth of 10 kilometres. The reports give no information on damage or casualties.
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A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the sea near Vanuatu on October 8, according to the US Geological Survey's earthquake information network, as cited by CLS, China News Service, Jiemian and a Xinhua flash report. The quake's focal depth was 10 kilometres; China News Service in its own report described it as about 10 kilometres. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
CLS was the first of the outlets to report the quake, at 17:16 local time, followed by Yicai, China News Service and Xinhua. Jiemian credited its report to Xinhua. None of the reports mention damage, casualties or tsunami warnings. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The quake was reported within minutes by Chinese state and business media, all relying on the US Geological Survey's data. The documents carry only the magnitude and depth, so its consequences are not yet known from these reports.
Key facts
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred in the sea near Vanuatu on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The focal depth was 10 kilometres; China News Service gave it as about 10 kilometres. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The data came from the US Geological Survey's earthquake information network. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Xinhua issued a flash report on the quake, which China News Service and Jiemian carried. [ 3 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the earthquake caused damage, casualties or a tsunami threat. None of the documents mention damage, casualties or tsunami warnings.
- The exact time and epicentre location of the earthquake. The documents give only the date and 'sea near Vanuatu', not a time of the quake or coordinates.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports the magnitude 6.6 quake near Vanuatu, citing the US Geological Survey. [ 1 ]
- Yicai reports the quake. [ 2 ]
- China News Service carries a Xinhua flash report on the quake. [ 3 ]
- China News Service publishes its own report, giving the depth as about 10 kilometres. [ 4 ]
- Xinhua reports the quake with a depth of 10 kilometres. [ 5 ]
- Jiemian reports the quake, crediting Xinhua. [ 6 ]