South Pacific: Tsunami advisory in effect following magnitude-7.3 offshore earthquake off Shefa Province, Vanuatu, at around 12:47 Dec. 17 /update 1

The US Tsunami Warning System has issued an updated forecast for tsunami waves affecting Vanuatu and the surrounding regions Dec. 17. Tsunami waves between 0.3-1.0 m (1-3 feet) above tide levels are possible for the coasts of Vanuatu, while waves of less than 0.3 m (1 foot) above tide levels could impact the coasts of Fiji, Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna. Initial estimates indicate waves could arrive at Anatom Island and Esperitu Santo in Vanuatu at around 13:30 and 13:33, respectively.

The warning follows a magnitude-7.3 offshore earthquake that occurred in the Coral Sea off Shefa Province in central Vanuatu at around 12:47 Dec. 17. The epicenter was about 30 km (19 miles) west of Port Vila, at a depth of about 43 km (27 miles). 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.