In brief
On Tuesday afternoon local time, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck close to Vanuatu, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located approximately 18 miles off the coast of Port Vila, the capital of the Pacific Island nation, which is situated about 1,000 miles northeast of Australia.
In response to the earthquake, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System warned that certain coastal regions of Vanuatu could experience tsunami waves reaching heights of up to 3.2 feet above tide levels. Additionally, waves less than one foot were anticipated for the coastlines of nearby countries including Fiji, Kiribati, and New Caledonia. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the story remains ongoing.
