The U.S. Geological Survey announced that a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck off the coast of Vanuatu, prompting a localized tsunami warning.
According to the USGS, the quake occurred 30 kilometers west of the capital Port Vila at a depth of 57.1 kilometers.
The US Tsunami Warning System has released preliminary data suggesting the presence of dangerous tsunami waves. Possible within 300km of the epicenter. Vanuatu is made up of 80 islands and is home to approximately 330,000 people.
The unverified footage was released by the U.S. Embassy in the capital. serious damageand one of the witnesses reported that a landslide had occurred on the coastal road near Port Vila.
The Vanuatu government's website was offline due to the earthquake, and phone numbers for police and other public agencies were also unreachable.
According to the USGS, waves of 30 centimeters to 1 meter are possible in some areas of Vanuatu, and less than 30 centimeters in Fiji, Kermadec Island, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna. waves are expected
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has ruled out a tsunami threat for the coastline. Australian authorities are telling travelers: “If you are in an affected area, please move to higher ground. Please monitor local media for updates and follow advice from local authorities.”
New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency also ruled out a tsunami threat.
no #tsunami Magnitude 7.5 threat to Australia #earthquake Near the Vanuatu Islands. Here's the latest advice: https://t.co/Tynv3ZQpEq. pic.twitter.com/oJjzgizulb
— Australian Bureau of Meteorology (@BOM_au) December 17, 2024
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