South Pacific: A magnitude-7.0 earthquake occurs in Vanuatu, late Jan. 8 /update 1

Event

A magnitude-7.0 earthquake occurred in Vanuatu at 23:32 Jan. 8. The epicenter was about 340 km (211 miles) north northeast of Port Vila. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 28 km (17 miles), and shaking was probably felt throughout the country. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is possible. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

The NOAA/National Weather Service US Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami threat for Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and the Solomon Islands. Officials have noted that tsunami waves are forecast to be less than 0.3 meters (1 foot) above the tidal level for New Caledonia and the Solomon islands. Tsunami waves reaching 0.3-1 meter (1-3.3 feet) above tidal level are possible for Vanuatu.

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.

Advice

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.