1st LD Writethru: 6.0-magnitude offshore quake rocks Vanuatu

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit waters off Vanuatu on Saturday evening local time, the United States Geology Survey (USGS) said.

The epicenter of the quake which struck at 7:35 p.m. local time (0835GMT) from a depth of 4.8 kilometers was traced 32 kilometers southwest of Lakatoro, Vanuatu, said the USGS.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami warning, watch or advisory based on the quake.

There was no immediate report of casualty or damage.

Pacific island countries such as Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga lie on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones where continental plates collide producing frequent seismic activities. Endit