Tsunami Alert After 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Near Vanuatu in Pacific Ocean

A tsunami warning was triggered on Friday when an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 that struck southeast of Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. This tsunami warning for the region was withdrawn hours later.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake hit at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles).

Because of it warning of a possible tsunami was sounded for the areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu, said the U.S. tsunami warning system. The coastal regions of nearby Papua New Guinea were put on alert for tsunami waves of up to 30cm.

The French embassy in Vanuatu advised people to stay away from the coasts through a post on its official Facebook page. There have been no reports of damage or casualties so far.

Vanuatu has a population of 280,000 people and consists of several dozen islands. It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide, and it experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.