A powerful earthquake has struck near the archipelago of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean. The US earthquake monitor USGS estimated the magnitude at 7.7 on Friday. The early warning system in the US issued a tsunami warning – including for New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Waves of up to three meters are possible in Vanuatu and waves of up to one meter are expected on the coasts of New Zealand and the Pacific states of Fiji and Kiribati.
“An earthquake of this size could trigger a devastating tsunami that could hit coasts near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coasts within hours,” Vanuatu officials said. Residents of the archipelago have been advised to take immediate precautions and move from coastal areas to higher elevations.
People in New Caledonia have also been asked to leave the coastal areas. The New Zealand aid organization tweeted that it is closely monitoring the situation. “If a tsunami has been triggered, it is likely it will take at least an hour to reach New Zealand.”
According to the latest information, the earthquake struck 37 kilometers southeast of the Loyalty Islands, which are part of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. About 18,000 people live on the islands of the archipelago. New Caledonia with 270,000 inhabitants is located in the South Pacific Ocean, west of Australia and north of New Zealand.
(yam/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
