TLI Staff
“Tsunami Confirmed,” tweeted Bureau of Meteorology, Australia saying there is a threat to Lord Howe Island afer a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook South Pacific. Lord Howe Island is about 550 kilometres (340 miles) east of Australia’s mainland.
As per reports, the quake occured at just after midnight on Thursday local time (1320 GMT Wednesday) about 415 kilometres (258 miles) east of Vao in New Caledonia at a depth of 10 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
New Zealand authorities have requested residents along its northern coast to avoid beaches and shore areas.
“We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore,” said The New Zealand National Emergency Management Agency in a statement.
The affected areas included the far north of New Zealand’s north island, the Great Barrier Island east of Auckland and a stretch of coast along the country’s east.