A massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake has struck off the new Caledonia islands in the Southern Pacific, the USGS reports.
The quake was initially measured at 7.3, before it was downgraded after review by a seismologist. It was centered 85 miles SSW of Vanuatu, and 80 miles NNE of the Loyalty Islands. This puts it nearly than 1,100 miles from Australia.
