World

Tsunami threat lifted after earthquake strikes Vanuatu region

06:44 am on 8 December 2023

A tsunami warning was lifted after an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck the Vanuatu region on Friday. Photo: United States Geological Survey (USGS)

A tsunami warning for the coasts of Vanuatu and New Caledonia has passed, the US Tsunami Warning System said, after an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck the Vanuatu region on Friday.

It earlier said that hazardous tsunami waves from the earthquake were possible within 300km of the epicentre along the coasts of Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said the magnitude of the quake was 7, which it had earlier pegged at 6.6.

The quake was at a depth of 10km, GFZ said.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at 7.1 magnitude, with a depth of 48km.

- Reuters