"For the Pacific, it's the worst … I have seen in terms of earthquake damage," a Red Cross leader says.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A powerful magnitude 7.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Tuesday just off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean, the USGS said.

A response effort is underway in Port Vila after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu.

A response effort is underway in Port Vila after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck off the coast of Vanuatu.

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck off the coast of Vanuatu.

More than a dozen people have been killed by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck in Vanuatu but little is known about damage further afield.

A large 7.3 magnitude Pacific earthquake poses no tsunami threat to New Zealand, the National Emergency Management Agency says.

A large 7.3 magnitude Pacific earthquake poses no tsunami threat to New Zealand, the National Emergency Management Agency says.