South Pacific: Minor tsunami advisory issued for several South Pacific nations following remote magnitude-7.4 earthquake near Kermadec Islands March 5

Event

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a warning at 0641 GMT March 5 advising that tsunami waves of up to 0.3 meters (1 foot) above normal tide levels are possible along the coasts of inhabited islands in American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, and parts of northern New Zealand. The advisory followed a magnitude 7.4-earthquake that occurred in the South Pacific Ocean near the Kermadec Islands at about 0648 NZDT March 5. National or local authorities may ask individuals in low-lying coastal areas to seek higher ground as a precaution.

The quake's epicenter was approximately 962 km (596 miles) south-southwest of Ohonua, Tonga. The tremor occurred at a depth of approximately 55 km (34 miles). While very strong shaking was reported on the Kermadec Islands - a location inhabited only by small scientific teams from New Zealand at certain times of the year - the quake very likely had no direct impact on other areas of the South Pacific due to its extremely remote location.

Advice

Follow official instructions. Move away from the immediate coastline until the potential for tsunami waves has passed; even small tsunami waves can cause some degree of property damage and hazard to personal safety in areas immediately on affected shorelines.