South Pacific: Tsunami warning issued following magnitude-8.1 earthquake strikes in South Pacific Ocean near Kermadec Islands March 5

Event

A magnitude-8.1 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean near the Kermadec Islands at about 0628 NZDT March 5. The epicenter was approximately 834 km (518 miles) north-northeast of Auckland, New Zealand. The temblor has triggered a tsunami threat message; dangerous tsunami waves are possible in multiple South Pacific countries and territories within the next three hours.

This is a developing situation; additional information will be issued as warranted.

Advice

Move away from the immediate coastline; 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.