Two powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Vanuatu within four minutes and triggered a tsunami warning in the Pacific

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in Vanuatu, a Pacific nation of about 350,000 people. The first quake was initially measured at magnitude 7.2 before the US Geological Survey downgraded it to 6.9. Both struck at a shallow depth of 10km, about 197km and 170km from Port-Olry. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre warned that hazardous waves were possible within 300km.

The two quakes hit at 3.31am and 3.35am BST on Saturday.

Seismologists at GFZ have since recorded a magnitude 6.16 earthquake striking the islands.