A powerful undersea earthquake struck north of New Zealand on Wednesday evening, prompting tsunami warnings in parts of the region. As per the US Geological Agency, the magnitude 7.7 quake was centred at a depth of 10 kilometres southeast of the Loyalty Islands. The shaking was not expected to cause significant damage or fatalities on land.
The US Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings of possible tsunami waves ranging from 0.3 to 1 meters for Vanuatu and Fiji. A tsunami watch was issued and then cancelled for American Samoa.
Meanwhile earlier, a strong undersea earthquake shook western Indonesia on Wednesday, but no injuries were immediately reported. As per the US Geological Survey, the magnitude 6.2 quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres and was centred 217 kilometres south-southwest of Bengkulu city in Bengkulu province on the southwestern side of Sumatra island.
No tsunami warning was issued by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency and no casualties were immediately reported.