The US Geological Survey says a 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
It says the quake, which struck early this morning, was centered 85 kilometres southwest of Vanuatu and 175 kilometres northeast of the Loyalty Islands
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says there was no threat of a tsunami.
But it says earthquakes of such size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts within a hundred kilometres of the epicentre.
There were no immediate reports of damage.
