The police in Vanuatu say some people are still sheltering on higher ground, scared to return home, after a magnitude seven-point-five earthquake.
The quake, centered 40-kilometres north-west of the capital Port Vila, happened just before five-thirty yesterday evening.
The police advised people to immediately move to higher ground as a precaution.
However, only a small tsunami of about 27 centimeters was generated and authorities have told residents it is safe to return.
Speaking from the capital, Constable Irene Alick, says most people have come back down but some don't feel safe.
But she says fortunately there have been no reports of any injuries.
"People were running everywhere, shocked, but somehow we would have any injuries or any landslide or anything yet. So we were lucky enough to get through this."
Irene Alick says there appears to be little structural damage to buildings.
New Zealand's High Commissioner in Vanuatu says large buildings will be checked to see they are still stable after a magnitude seven-point-five earthquake.
The quake, centered 40-kilometres north-west of the capital Port Vila, happened just before five-thirty last night.
The High Commissioner, Jeff Langley, says the shake was very dramatic for about 30 seconds.
But Mr Langley says he understands the three to five hundred New Zealanders living or holidaying in Vanuatu are safe.
He says it appears the country has been reasonably lucky.
We don't have any reports of major damage to buildings or roads. The airport is open and functioning as normal, the runway has been cleared for normal operations.
But Jeff Langley says there is lots of superficial damage in Vanuatu such as cracks to walls.
He says the Vanuatu Government has made no official request for assistance from New Zealand.
