© US Geological SurveyThe Vanuatu archipelago is just over 1,000 miles off the coast of Australia
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale has struck off the Vanuatu archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.
The US Geological Survey said it struck in the centre of Erromago, the fourth largest island, which has a population of just under 2,000 people.
However, its depth of 124.4 miles would have dampened its effect, it said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake did not pose a tsunami threat
Situated to the east of Australia, the island chain is in the so called "Ring of Fire", which is prone to earthquakes.
Comment: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that the core of Hurricane Maria still remains dangerous, despite being downgraded to a category 2 hurricane and that "Maria could regain major hurricane status by Thursday" as "some strengthening" is forecast for the next day or two. Conditions are now deteriorating over eastern Dominican Republic with winds of up to 110mph (175kmph), according to the NHC.
A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques and part of the Dominican Republic - from Cabo Engano to Puerto Plata - as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands and southeastern Bahamas.
Meanwhile aerial footage shows the massive damage sustained by the Caribbean island of Dominica from Hurricane Maria. Seven people have so far been confirmed dead in Dominica, but that toll is expected to rise as rescue teams make their way to inaccessible parts of the island.