Tsunami warnings have been issued for Australia's Lord Howe Island and countries in the South Pacific following a magnitude-7.7 earthquake south-east of the Loyalty Islands in the French territory of New Caledonia.
Potential tsunami threats were issued for Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a warning of a marine threat for Lord Howe Island, off Australia's east coast, after the earthquake on Friday afternoon.
"So far, a 22-centimetre tsunami wave has been observed near New Caledonia," the BOM said in its warning notice on Friday afternoon.
The BOM warned of the possibility of dangerous rips, waves, and strong ocean currents, as well as some localised overflow on the immediate foreshore of the island.
It said evacuations were not necessary, but people in the marine environment of Lord Howe Island were advised to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge.
The BOM said there was no threat to mainland Australia.
New Caledonia lifted its tsunami alert later on Friday afternoon.
Key points:
- The BOM warns of the possibility of dangerous rips, waves, and strong ocean currents for Lord Howe Island
- Tsunami warnings have also been issued for Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia
- The BOM says there is no threat to mainland Australia
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Story first published by: ABC news