The story

For the fourth time in less than 11 hours, a major earthquake rocked the South Pacific Ocean near the island nation of Vanuatu on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

They were part of a series of 16 moderate-to-major quakes that rattled the region over the same period.

The first three major quakes struck in a 70-minute cluster beginning at 9:03 a.m. (6:03 p.m. ET Wednesday). The fourth temblor hit Thursday evening at 7:29 p.m. (4:28 a.m. ET). Read full article »

CNN's Lonzo Cook and Jessica Jordan contributed to this story.

All About U.S. Geological SurveyEarthquakesPacific Tsunami Warning Center

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