A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck near the Pacific Island of Vanuatu

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake has struck near the Pacific Island of Vanuatu, the U.S. Geological Survey said Monday. There were no immediate reports of damages.

The earthquake struck at 0602 GMT approximately 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Port Vila on the island of Efate, which lies approximately 1,890 kilometers (1,175 miles) east of Australia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii said the quake could potentially cause a localized tsunami, the AP reports.

"Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter," the center said on its Web site.

A.M.