10 Feb 2021 | 03:05 PM UTC
Pacific Ocean: Magnitude-7.7 earthquake occurs southeast of Loyalty Islands at around 0220 Feb. 11; tsunami threat for some regions /update 1
Magnitude-7.7 earthquake occurs in Pacific Ocean east of New Caledonia at 0220 Feb. 11; tsunami threat for some regions
Event
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake occurred southeast of the Loyalty Islands at around 0220 Feb. 11. The epicenter was about 525 km (326 miles) east-southeast of Noumea, New Caledonia. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and moderate shaking was probably felt throughout the southern Pacific Ocean. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely in several countries and territories in the region, including New Caledonia, Fiji, and New Zealand. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Strong aftershocks are likely over the coming days.
Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.
The National Weather Service's US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat warning, forecasting that some hazardous waves of up to 1 m (3 feet) above tide level may reach the coasts of Fiji, New Zealand, and Vanuatu. Officials also forecast that smaller waves less than 0.3 m (1 foot) above tide level may reach coasts of American Samoa, Australia, Chuuk, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Howland and Baker, Jarvis Island, Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palmyra Island, Papua New Guinea, Pohnpei, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna. Authorities are advising residents in coastal areas in the region to remain alert.
Advice
Persons in the impact area should monitor local media for updates and advisories from the local authorities. Consider moving away from the immediate coastline, particularly in Fiji, New Zealand, and Vanuatu until authorities give the all-clear; tsunamis can be long-duration events, and the threat may persist for hours. Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.
