A magnitude 7 tremor was detected off the Pacific island state of Vanuatu on Sunday night, according to the United States Survey of Geophysics (USGS), prompting a tsunami warning for the region.
The earthquake occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time (12:30 GMT) at a depth of 27 kilometers, the USGS specifies, and 25 kilometers from the town of Port-Olry.
“A tsunami with waves between 0.3 and 1m above sea level is possible along parts of Vanuatu’s coastline,” the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said.
“Lots of Broken Things”
The French Embassy in Vanuatu advised its nationals in a Facebook message to stay away from the coast.
In addition, residents have denounced the damage caused by the earthquake on social networks.
“A huge one!” one person posted on Facebook, before specifying: “Lots of broken stuff everywhere.”
In New Zealand, the National Emergency Response Agency said there was no tsunami warning for the country.
Powerful earthquake in November 2022 in Solomon Islands
Part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates collide, Vanuatu experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
The Solomon Islands, north of Vanuatu, were hit by a powerful magnitude 7 earthquake in November 2022, causing no casualties or serious damage.
However, witnesses reported tremors tossing televisions and other objects to the ground, while power outages hit the Solomon Islands capital Honiara.
The coastal regions of Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea were placed on a tsunami alert.
Source: BFM TV
