South Pacific: Tsunami threat passed following major earthquake southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia May 20 /update 2

Event

The National Weather Service (NWS) Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated on May 20 that a tsunami threat from an earlier major earthquake had passed. A magnitude-7.1 earthquake occurred southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, at around 12:51 NCT May 20. The temblor occurred after a severe magnitude-7.7 earthquake southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, at around 13:57 NCT May 19. Several sizeable aftershocks have been reported in the area. Further aftershocks are likely in the coming days.

There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. 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. Prepare for aftershocks. Heed the instructions of local officials.