Tsunami waves were seen in Vanuatu and New Caledonia in the southern Pacific, the closest islands to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred late Wednesday morning in Brazil.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported tsunami waves up to 0.64 meters high in Vanuatu and 0.38 meters in New Caledonia.
New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu face the most significant threats, which according to the PTWC (Pacific Tsunami Warning Center), can cause waves of up to one meter in the next two hours. The New Zealand Civil Defense has issued an alert for coastal areas.
We have issued a national admit card: TSUNAMI activity after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake near the South East coast of South Africa. We expect the coastal areas of New Zealand to experience strong and unusual currents and unexpected increases along the coast
– National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) 10 February, 2021
The sea level on the coast can vary greatly with tsunamis depending on local geography, which suggests officials’ warnings and over-caution. Australia confirmed the formation of the tsunami and issued an alert for its maritime zone.
TSUNAMI confirmed. Overview – Norfolk is 2:15 pm AEDT. Maritime Warning for the Island of Jehovah. Issued by JATWC 3:01 AM AEDT Thu 11 February 2021. AEDT Thu kept warning for several hours, affecting the maritime zone starting after 2:45 pm. https://t.co/cuhd1HTN87 pic.twitter.com/KtL1fMMoyh
– Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) 10 February, 2021
According to the USGS, the US Geological Service, there was an earthquake in the South Pacific about 400 km east of New Caledonia.
Although it was far from the ground To not cause damage, the great earthquake may have caused a tsunami that poses a risk to the islands of the South Pacific.
