Tsunami warning as strong 7.6 quake strikes off New Caledonia

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) – A powerful undersea earthquake has struck in the South Pacific.

The 7.6 magnitude tremor hit off the east coast of New Caledonia on Wednesday morning, the US Geological Survey said.

The earthquake has triggered a tsunami warning, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The undersea quake was only a shallow 10 km (6 miles) deep and about 155 km (95 miles) east-southeast of the Loyalty Islands off New Caledonia’s east coast.

“Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 1,000 km (600 miles) of the epicenter along the coasts of Vanuatu and New Caledonia,” the PTWC said.