17 Dec 2024 | 02:13 AM UTC
Vanuatu: Magnitude 7.3 offshore earthquake occurs in the Coral Sea off Shefa Province at around 12:47 Dec. 17
Magnitude 7.3 offshore earthquake occurs off Vanuatu at around 12:47 Dec. 17; tsunami advisory in effect.
A magnitude-7.3 offshore earthquake 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. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 43 km (27 miles), and moderate-to-strong shaking was probably felt throughout Vanuatu. 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. The US Tsunami Warning System has issued a Tsunami Threat alert advising of potential tsunami waves within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter.
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.
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.
