South Pacific: Magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia May 20 /update 1

Event

A severe magnitude-7.1 earthquake occurred southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, at around 12:51 NCT May 20. Significant damage and casualties are possible. Hazardous waves are possible for coastal locations within 300 km (186 miles) of the earthquake epicenter. Tsunami waves of less than 0.3 meters (1 foot) above the tide level are possible along the coasts of Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. The temblor occurs after a severe magnitude-7.7 earthquake took place southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, at around 13:57 NCT May 19.

There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties due to the earthquake, and significant damage is possible if a tsunami occurs. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming hours and 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.

Advice

Vacate multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Move away from the immediate coastline as a precaution due to the potential for hazardous waves.