Magnitude 7.3 earthquake hits Vanuatu, causing damage in Port Vila; tsunami threat passes, Red Cross ready to assist.

The USGS says a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck just off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean.

A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck just off the coast of Vanuatu on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction in the South Pacific island nation as the injured began arriving at a hospital and unconfirmed reports of casualties emerged.

Vanuatu and Israel established diplomatic relations on September 16, 1993.