Tsunami warnings

VMGD is working closely with NDMO to ensure that tsunami threat messages and cyclone warnings are issued based on the standard of procedures set by both entities. Both departments are responsible for the dissemination of early warning. An earthquake information bulletin is issued once an earthquake magnitude is 5.0 or more and will advise on whether the earthquake has caused some impacts.

Napat said the Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change and the Director of the National Disaster Management Office should quit because of their incompetency.

He said the impacts of last week's tsunami warning could have been worse as the issuing of an advisory message was released an hour late.

He said it was the third time the disaster authorities have issued late advisory messages on tsunami and Napat believed it was putting people lives in danger.

Geoscience Australia says the quake, which struck early this morning, had an epicentre 400 kilometres east of the town of Tadine.

Seismic data indicates the undersea earthquake struck at a depth of 54 kilometres.

Several aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.1 have occurred.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System says hazardous tsunami waves up to a level of 1 metre above the normal tide level are possible for coasts within 1-thousand kilometres of the epicentre with New Caledonia, Vanuatu particularly at risk.

The centre issued warnings for Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae.

It said people near impacted coastal areas should stay alert and exercise normal caution near the sea.

American Samoa had issued a tsunami watch following the earthquake but that was later cancelled.

The quake, which hit just before 5am local time on Friday morning, was initially reported to be of magnitude 8 by the US Geological Service but was downgraded shortly afterwards.