New Caledonia: 6.4- magnitude earthquake strikes near Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia Nov.19; no tsunami warning issued

Event

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale struck some 64 km (40 mi) east of Mare, Loyalty Islands at 01:24 (local time) on Sunday, November 19. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has not issued a tsunami warning, and no damage is expected. Aftershocks are possible.

Context

Loyalty Islands are located within the so-called “Ring of Fire”, a major basin within the Pacific Ocean that experiences an extremely high number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Advice

No tsunami warnings have been issued, and no damage is expected. Individuals present in Loyalty Islands should nonetheless be aware of the possibility of aftershocks and continue to exercise a normal level of caution in coastal areas.

In the event of an earthquake, take shelter under a table or crouched in a corner (away from exterior walls) if indoors and protect your head with your arms. If outdoors, move away from buildings and other tall structures; if driving, pull over as soon as it is safe to do so, away from tall structures. If caught under debris following an earthquake, keep all movements to a minimum and cover your mouth to avoid inhaling dust.