People across the South Pacific have been told to avoid coastal areas due to the risk of small tsunami waves after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake south-east of the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia.
Tsunami waves ranging from 0.3 to 1 metre above the tide level were possible for some coasts of Vanuatu, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
Waves below that level were set for 25 island groups including Tonga and Tuvalu, it said.
A 22cm tsunami had been observed near New Caledonia, the threat alert added.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of about 38km (24 miles) on Friday.
Vanuatu warned citizens to seek higher ground, according to an official at the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department, who said the office had received calls from people on the southern islands who had felt shaking.
Australia’s meteorology bureau issued a tsunami threat for Lord Howe Island, off its east coast, and warned the roughly 450 inhabitants to leave the water’s edge due to waves and strong currents.
“We haven’t moved to higher ground and we’re probably not going to,” said Damien Ball of the Thompsons General Store on Lord Howe Island.
“We’ve been through this numerous times before and nothing ever comes of it.”
Similar warnings are in place for much of New Zealand’s west coast. The country’s civil defence agency issued an advisory saying it expected New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore.