A 7.2-magnitude earthquake has struck south-east of the island nation of Vanuatu in Oceania, US Geological Survey has reported. An alert over a local threat of a tsunami has been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC).
The quake hit less than 500 kilometers south-east of the Republic of Vanuatu (population 243,000) and 109 kilometers off the coast of Ile Hunter, part of French Pacific territory of New Caledonia (population 262,000), according to the USGS. It was registered at a depth of 2 kilometers.
PTWC has issued a preliminary warning of a “hazardous tsunami waves” possible within 1,000 kilometres of the quake’s epicenter. The warning covers Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia.
The quake’s magnitude was later downgraded from 7.6 to 7.2 by the USGS.
The quake hit less than 500 kilometers south-east of the Republic of Vanuatu (population 243,000) and 109 kilometers off the coast of Ile Hunter, part of French Pacific territory of New Caledonia (population 262,000), according to the USGS. It was registered at a depth of 2 kilometers.
PTWC has issued a preliminary warning of a “hazardous tsunami waves” possible within 1,000 kilometres of the quake’s epicenter. The warning covers Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia.
The quake’s magnitude was later downgraded from 7.6 to 7.2 by the USGS.