A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Tuesday off the coast of the Pacific island state of Vanuatu, the US Geological Survey said, triggering tsunami waves.
The tremor was registered at a depth of 43 kilometers (27 miles) and located just 30 kilometers west of the Vanuatu capital Port Vila, it said.
“Tsunami waves have been observed,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin, predicting waves of up to one meter (about three feet) along some parts of Vanuatu’s coastline.
Tsunami waves of less than 30 centimeters (one foot) above the tidal level were predicted for Pacific island nations including Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.
The US Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said tsunami waves have been observed and are forecast for some coasts.
It expects tsunami waves reaching one meter are possible for some coasts of Vanuatu.
The tsunami is expected to reach Anatom Island and Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu anytime from 1.30 pm local time.
While Fiji, Kermadic Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu Wallis, and Futuna are forecast for tsunami waves less than 30 centimeters.
It said the coastal regions of Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI should refer to Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages.
