Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Off New Caledonia,Tsunami Threat Declared - Seismologists

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of New Caledonia Friday morning, the data of the US Geological Survey showed.

The earthquake occurred at 02:57 GMT some 448 kilometers (278 miles) away from New Caledonia's capital Noumea. The epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of 37.7 kilometers.

A Tsunami threat warning has been declared within 1,000 kilometers of the earthquake's epicenter, according to the US National Tsunami Warning Center.

"Tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters above the tide level are possible along some coasts of Vanuatu ... Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 meters above the tide level are possible for some coasts of New Caledonia ... Fiji ... and New Zealand," the center said in a message.

--

 Magnitude    Mw 7.7
Region    SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
Date time    2023-05-19 02:57:05.7 UTC
Location    23.19 S ; 170.76 E
Depth    30 km
Distances    454 km E of Nouméa, New Caledonia / pop: 93,000 / local time: 13:57:05.7 2023-05-19
348 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia / pop: 7,400 / local time: 13:57:05.7 2023-05-19