PORT VILA – There was another tsunami scare for the Pacific islands this morning after a series of earthquakes struck near Vanuatu.
A Pacific tsunami warning was lifted after only a small wave was generated.
The first quake with a magnitude of 7.8 was followed by two quakes of lesser intensity.
The quakes triggered a tsunami alert for more than 30 countries and territories including Vanuatu, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, Nauru, Fiji, Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea.
The first epicentre was reported to be 295km north-northwest of Vanuatu’s largest island, Santo, at a depth of 35km.
New Zealand consular officer Shane Coleman told NZPA the tremors had not seemed to cause any damage. "It was a long and lazy quake," he said.
Apex Garden Hotel owner Valiant Leung told StuffNZ that it was the biggest earthquake he had experienced in his 26 years on the island of Santo. But rather than being a violent quake, it was a long rolling motion.
"It was like being on a boat," he said.
In Vanuatu residents evacuated low-lying areas and fled to higher ground. In New Caledonia, schools in coastal areas were evacuated.
In Fiji, offices and schools near the coast were closed and hotels were advised to take tourists to higher ground.
More than 170 people died last week when a tsunami triggered by a quake hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
