SYDNEY:– A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Vanuatu Sunday, but a tsunami threat passed with no immediate reports of major damage along the coasts of the Pacific archipelago. The quake, initially reported as 7.2 magnitude, struck at a depth of 35 kilometres (22 miles), 81 kilometres north-northwest of the town of Port Olry on Espiritu Santo island in Vanuatu at 0823 GMT, the United States Geological Survey said. It was 407 kilometres from the capital Port Vila. The USGS said there was a "low likelihood of casualties and damage".–AFP