Small tsunamis detected in New Caledonia and Vanuatu after magnitude 7 undersea quake
Vanuatu evacuates southern coastline
Vanuatu witnessed a mass evacuation earlier this year when a volcano began erupting. This file photo shows smoke and ash emanating from the Manaro Voui volcano located on Vanuatu's northern island Ambae in the South Pacific, October 1, 2017 PHOTO: REUTERS
SYDNEY:
A powerful magnitude 7 undersea earthquake struck east of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands in the South Pacific on Monday, sending small tsunamis towards New Caledonia and neighbouring Vanuatu, where authorities ordered evacuations.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning for coastlines within 300 km of the epicentre, but later said the danger had largely passed. Monday's quake, initially reported as magnitude 7.3, struck at a shallow depth of 10 km about 82 km east of New Caledonia. It was the second major tremor in the same area in just over 12 hours and the third in the past month.
Vanuatu in final evacuation of island threatened by volcano
"We are a little bit scared, we have had an earthquake last night and today it was quite a big one," said Wayan Rigault, communications manager at Hotel Nengone Village on the island of Mare, which is the closest landmass to the epicentre. Rigault said there was no immediate damage, but guests were on alert for a formal evacuation warning.
Small tsunamis were detected and waves may have reached up to one metre (three feet) above the high tide level in parts of New Caledonia and smaller in Vanuatu, the PTWC said. "Minor sea level fluctuations...may continue over the next few hours," a statement from the agency said. Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office advised people in southern provinces to evacuate coastal areas for higher ground.
Thousands evacuated from Vanuatu island as volcano erupts
New Caledonia's civil security agency made no plans to evacuate coastal places immediately. Authorities in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii said there were no tsunami threats to the coastlines of those countries.
A powerful magnitude 7 undersea earthquake struck east of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands in the South Pacific on Monday, sending small tsunamis towards New Caledonia and neighbouring Vanuatu, where authorities ordered evacuations.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning for coastlines within 300 km of the epicentre, but later said the danger had largely passed. Monday's quake, initially reported as magnitude 7.3, struck at a shallow depth of 10 km about 82 km east of New Caledonia. It was the second major tremor in the same area in just over 12 hours and the third in the past month.
Vanuatu in final evacuation of island threatened by volcano
"We are a little bit scared, we have had an earthquake last night and today it was quite a big one," said Wayan Rigault, communications manager at Hotel Nengone Village on the island of Mare, which is the closest landmass to the epicentre. Rigault said there was no immediate damage, but guests were on alert for a formal evacuation warning.
Small tsunamis were detected and waves may have reached up to one metre (three feet) above the high tide level in parts of New Caledonia and smaller in Vanuatu, the PTWC said. "Minor sea level fluctuations...may continue over the next few hours," a statement from the agency said. Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office advised people in southern provinces to evacuate coastal areas for higher ground.
Thousands evacuated from Vanuatu island as volcano erupts
New Caledonia's civil security agency made no plans to evacuate coastal places immediately. Authorities in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii said there were no tsunami threats to the coastlines of those countries.