A powerful earthquake was detected at a depth of 37 km, southeast of New Caledonia. A tsunami warning has been issued.

By QM with AFP

UA powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.7 occurred Friday, May 19 in the Pacific Ocean southeast of New Caledonia, triggering a tsunami warning, announced the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS).

The tremor was detected at a depth of 37 km and 333.8 km from the Caledonian coast, according to the same source. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has for its part estimated that a tidal wave is “possible” within a radius of 1,000 km around the epicenter.

“Based on preliminary earthquake parameters, dangerous tsunami waves are possible on coasts within 1,000 km of the earthquake’s epicenter,” the PTWC said in a bulletin. The center urges residents of threatened coastal areas to remain vigilant. A hotel receptionist in Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, told Agence France Presse that she did not feel any tremors.

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