Australians believed safe after Vanuatu earthquake

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said on Tuesday he is confident no Australians have been affected by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Vanuatu.

The undersea quake 40 kilometers from the capital Port Vila shook buildings in the city for about 15 seconds on Tuesday, but had not caused significant damage.

Smith said all embassy staff and family had been accounted for, and the government was now checking to see if any other Australians had been affected.

"We know that all Australian (embassy) staff and relatives and dependents are accounted for," he told reporters in Sydney.

"But we're just checking to ensure that no Australians have been adversely affected by the earthquake.

"Whilst we will remain in close contact with Vanuatuan officials, we're confident on the advice that we have that no Australians would have been adversely affected by the earthquake."

Source: Xinhua