Australia issues tsunami warning for Lord Howe Island after 7.7 magnitude earthquake

According to the BOM warning, the sea around Lord Howe Island may see rip currents - strong water flowing from the shore towards the sea, large waves and strong currents, which may even reach the shore after about 4:15 p.m. (local time) and last for several hours. The BOM said there is currently no need for evacuation, but advised people to be cautious and stay away from coastal areas. The agency also noted that a tsunami with a height of 8 cm was recorded in New Caledonia.

Meanwhile, authorities in New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu have lifted tsunami warnings issued earlier in the day. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the latest data showed that the tsunami risk from the earthquake was no longer present.

Previously, the Vanuatu government asked people to evacuate coastal areas with an altitude below 12 meters above sea level, and to keep a minimum distance of 300 meters.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at around 02:57 GMT (09:57 Vietnam time) at a depth of about 38 km. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for areas in New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu, and assessed that tsunami waves could hit coastal areas within 1,000 km of the epicenter. Meteorological agencies feared strong tsunami waves could occur along the coasts of Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji, as well as Australia's Lord Howe Island.

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