South Pacific: Tsunami threat over following magnitude-7.3 offshore earthquake in the South Pacific late Nov. 11 /update 1

Event

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has released an updated bulletin stating the tsunami threat from a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in the South Pacific Nov. 11 has now passed. The PTWC had earlier issued a Tsunami Advisory for American Samoa and a Potential Threat for Niue and Tonga. The center has warned that minor sea level fluctuations are still possible in some coastal areas closest to the epicenter in the coming hours. Tonga Meteorological Services also issued a tsunami alert earlier Nov. 11.

The magnitude-7.3 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific near Tonga and Niue at 23:48 TOT Nov. 11. The epicenter was about 211 km (131 miles) east-southeast of Neiafu, Tonga. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 25 km (16 miles), and light-to-moderate shaking was probably felt throughout the impacted region. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. 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.

Advice

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.