There are reports of houses being damaged and destroyed on a remote island in Vanuatu's south, after several tsunami waves hit coastal areas yesterday afternoon, following a magnitude-7.5 earthquake.

The US National Tsunami Centre said the quake struck at a depth of around 10 kilometres just after 3:00pm (local time), about 168 kilometres east of the nearest population centre, Tadine, on New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands.

There are no reported casualties, but people in both Vanuatu and New Caledonia are this morning assessing the damage.

Residents on Aneityum, the southern-most inhabited island in Vanuatu, told Pacific Beat there had been as many as four waves hitting the island, and at least five homes had been destroyed.

Photos posted to social media showed debris strewn across beaches, and water marks metres inland.

Resident Joseph Yasifu, who is a tour operator based in Aneityum, said people did not hear a warning in his village of Umej, and only started running to higher ground when the first wave hit.

In New Caledonia, Deputy Director-General of the Pacific Community Cameron Diver, said there was ample warning for people in Noumea to evacuate, and alert sirens went off in the Loyalty Islands.

But he said areas were hit by waves of up to 2 metres, and he expected "significant coastal erosion".</s>Tsunami warnings for New Caledonia, Vanuatu after magnitude-7.5 earthquake

Tsunami waves have been seen after a magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck off the coast of New Caledonia.

The US National Tsunami Centre said the quake struck at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres just after 3:00pm (local time) about 168 kilometres east of the nearest populated city, Tadine, on New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands.

"Hazardous tsunami waves" were forecast for Vanuatu and New Caledonia by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC).

PTWC said waves 1 to 3 metres above the tide level could hit New Caledonia and Vanuatu and confirmed "tsunami waves have been observed" at about 3:45pm (AEST).

Vanuatu's government released a statement saying it was not expecting a "destructive tsunami".

The earthquake's epicentre was about 310 kilometres away from New Caledonia's capital, Noumea.

"That is pretty far away," USGS's Rafael Abreu said.

"We wouldn't expect to see any significant damage from that far away from the ground-shaking related to this event."

According to PTWC, any waves that hit Australia as a result of the tremor would be less than 30 centimetres tall.

At least five aftershocks also hit, ranging in magnitude from 5.6 to 6.

New Caledonia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" — the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.</s>A tsunami warning has been issued for all of the Pacific island of New Caledonia, after a shallow 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s coast, prompting warnings that hazardous tsunami waves up to three metres high could reach New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

The earthquake was a shallow 10km (6 miles) deep and occurred about 155km (95 miles) southeast of the Loyalty Islands, which are part of New Caledonia, a French territory, on Wednesday afternoon local time.

“Based on the preliminary earthquake parameters, hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1,000km of the earthquake epicenter,” warned the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), saying waves could reach between one and three metres high.

Earthquakes are generally more destructive when the epicenter is near the surface.

The New Caledonian high commission issued a tsunami warning for all of New Caledonia, ordering the “immediate evacuation” of people to refuge areas and the “application of safety instructions”.

“If you don’t have time to prepare your evacuation, get more than 300m away from the coast and/or get to a height of more than 12m,” warned the Directorate for Civil Protection and Risk Management of New Caledonia (DSCGR).

The PTWC issued tsunami wave warnings for Anatom Island and Esperitu Santo in Vanuatu and Noumea in New Caledonia. They said initial tsunami waves could arrive between 4:42pm UTC and 5:39pm UTC but warned that the actual arrival time of the wave could differ from this and warned that “a tsunami is a series of waves and the time between waves can be five minutes to one hour” and that the initial wave may not be the largest and most dangerous in the series.

Waves reaching 0.3m to 1m above tide level could reach some coasts of Fiji, warned the PTWC and tsunami waves of less than 0.3m could reach many countries across the Pacific and south-east Asia, including Australia.

The PTWC said government agencies should inform coastal populations who are at risk, in line with their procedures and told people located in threatened coastal areas to “stay alert for information”.

A spokesman for French mining and metals group Eramet , which operates the Doniambo nickel plant in the main harbour of Noumea, said it had enacted its tsunami alert process.

“The procedure is to ask people who work near the sea to move higher up,” he said, adding that he had felt the quake, describing it a strong but not long-lasting shaking.

This is a developing story … please check back for updates</s>Tsunami waves have been observed after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook the south Pacific in the early hours Wednesday.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii, waves one to three meters (3 - 10 feet) above the tide level could strike the coasts of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Smaller waves up to one meter may reach Fiji and ripples of no more than a foot could travel all the way to South and Central America, Hawaii, China, Japan and just about any nation with Pacific coastline in the southern hemisphere.

Waves have been observed already at buoys off New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Evacuations have been ordered for vulnerable areas of New Caledonia, but the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department posted the following on its website:

"Based on all available and historical data, a destructive Tsunami is not expected within Vanuatu. This will be the only statement for this event unless additional data are received."

"A tsunami is a series of waves and the time between waves can be five minutes to one hour," reads the PTWC alert.

The waves were triggered by a shallow earthquake centered southeast of the Loyalty Islands, which are part of New Caledonia. Several aftershocks of at least 5.0 magnitude have been recorded since the initial earthquake just after 4 a.m. UTC.</s>New Caledonia has been rocked by a massive magnitude 7.6 earthquake on Wednesday, sparking a tsunami alert and evacuations. Authorities have urged residents to move more than 984 feet away from the shore and head to high ground if possible. High ground, say officials, is anything taller than 39 ft above sea level.

Despite the massive quake on Wednesday afternoon local time, New Caledonia officials have reported no injuries. Oliver Ciry, a spokesman for New Caledonia's directorate for civil protection and risk management said: "The good news is, we have had no injuries or damage.” He added that they had spotted abnormal movements of the sea off the east coast before the earthquake. Read More: New Caledonia earthquake: Where did HUGE magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit?

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) warned that tsunami waves of 3-10 feet (1-3 meters) were possible along the coasts of New Caledonia and Vanuatu and could be take a while to form. The PTWC warned: “A tsunami is a series of waves and the time between waves can be five minutes to one hour.” Residents were alerted via an urgent text message which ordered “immediate evacuation” to refuge areas and the “application of safety instructions”. The Directorate for Civil Protection and Risk Management of New Caledonia (DSCGR) warned: “If you don’t have time to prepare your evacuation, get more than 300m away from the coast and/or get to a height of more than 12m.”

New Caledonia is a French territory which lies north of New Zealand, in the South Pacific Ocean. The earthquake itself struck just 10 km (6 miles) deep and about 155 km (95 miles) east-southeast of the Loyalty Islands, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The epicentre of the quake was around 300 km (186.4 miles) east of the New Caledonia capital Noumea, but it was so strong that experts said small tsunami waves may be seen as far away as Antarctica and Russia. New Caledonia is comprised of dozens of islands in the South Pacific and is known for its white sandy beaches and rich marine life.</s>The earthquake struck at 4.18am UTC (3.18pm local time) and registered at magnitude 7.6. It struck about 95 miles southeast of the Loyalty Islands, part of the French Territory New Caledonia. At a depth of six miles, this shadow earthquake could pose a major hazard to land. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said tsunami waves of between one and three meters were possible along some coasts of New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Waves of up to one metre were possible in Fiji, the agency warned.

People on the east coast have been told to retreat at least 300m from the shore by the New Caledonia civil defence, and try to get to ground of at least 12m in altitude. Those living on the west coast have been urged to remain vigilant. At least five aftershocks were registered after the initial quake, ranging in magnitude from 5.6 to 6.0. READ MORE: WATCH as tsunami warning issued after HUGE quake – VIDEO

New Caledonia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where most of the world's earthquakes and volcanic activity occur. Is it safe to travel? The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for the region following the earthquake. The advice is as follows for all regions: “Anyone on low lying coastal areas should be prepared to move to higher ground. Please follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor media channels.”

If you have plans to travel to the region, you should check with your travel provider for any updates on safety or access. However, there were no immediate reports of damage from the initial earthquake, and according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), minimal loss of life is expected. Basile Citre, a municipal official on the Loyalty Island of Mare, said the situation there was so far under control. He told AFP: “I was in a meeting at the town hall and we felt a small tremor then a bigger one.</s>The islands of New Caledonia have been subject to tsunami warnings this morning, after an earthquake of 7.5 magnitude struck oceans close by.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre have warned people to retreat 300m away from shorelines, and get to 12m above sea level if possible.

Despite the region experiencing regular earthquakes, tsunami warnings are more rare.

But where is the island, and what is the current threat level.

The French territory, made up of a number of islands in the Pacific, is around 1,500 miles north of New Zealand.

The archipelago is part of the Melanesia subregion, and has a land area of 7,172 sqare miles and population of almost 270,000.

In New Caledonia, the main islands include Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Chesterfield Islands, the Belep archipelago, and the Isle of Pines.

Natives of the territory are called the Kanak people, but inhabitants also include Europeans, Polynesians, and Asians.

It sits on something called the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, on a series of seismic faults. As a result of this, it’s been the location of a number of extreme weather events.

The current weather situation means tsunami waves of between 3ft and 10ft may be possible along some coasts of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, while waves of up to 3ft were possible in Fiji.

According to the US Geological Survey, the original earthquake struck about 104 miles east of Tadine in New Caledonia at a shallow depth of six miles.

Earthquakes that hit shallow depths are usually more dangerous, which prompted fears about tsunami waves possibly hitting nearby islands.

The island of Vanuatu, however, only saw waves travelling a few metres beyond normal tides, which may mean New Caledonia will also be safe.

At this point the threat is still in place, though, despite the islanders stating there has been no damage so far.

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MORE: Thousands of shooting stars set to scorch through the sky as the Geminids meteor shower begins</s>The shallow earthquake struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands today around 4.18am GMT (UTC). Preliminary tests show the tremors occurred at a depth of mourned six miles (10km). Two aftershocks were later recorded at 5.9 magnitude and 5.7 magnitude north of the island. The tsunami threat has now passed but officials expect sea fluctuations to affect coastal areas.

TSUNAMI WAVES seen after two HUGE earthquakes strike off New Caledonia

Residents of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji are urged to “remain alert” and cautious when near the sea.

The update comes after the PTWC warned of tsunami waves up 9.8ft (3m) tall along the coasts of New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

At 7.09am GMT the PTWC said: “The tsunami threat from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake southeast of the Loyalty Islands has now largely passed.

“Minor sea level fluctuations up to 0.3m may continue over the next few hours.”</s>A massive earthquake has struck beneath the waters of the South Pacific, and dangerously powerful waves may soon follow. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is cautioning that the magnitude 7.6 quake, which struck Wednesday afternoon local time, could pose risks for Vanuatu and the nearby island chain of New Caledonia.

"Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1000 km [roughly 620 miles] of the earthquake epicenter," the service said.

The epicenter was recorded just over 100 miles southeast of Tadine, a town on the Loyalty Islands, which are part of New Caledonia. The region's high commission ordered residents to immediately evacuate to high ground and refuge areas, according to The Guardian.

New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, has a population of about 259,000.

Meanwhile Vanuatu, an independent archipelago nation, also faces the risk of a tsunami. The PTWC warned that the country's Anatom and Epertu islands both could see dangerous waves within an hour or two of the earthquake's strike.

New Zealand, for its part, quickly announced that its residents would face "no tsunami threat."</s>WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A powerful earthquake that struck in the southern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday sent jitters around the region after authorities warned of possible tsunamis, but there were no initial reports of destructive waves or major damage.

The magnitude 7.5 quake hit in the afternoon near the French territory of New Caledonia at a shallow depth, where earthquakes are generally more damaging. It was felt as far away as Vanuatu, about 630 kilometres away

Tsunami sirens blared across New Caledonia minutes after the quake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves of between 1 and 3 metres were possible along some coasts of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, before later lifting the warning.

Local authorities in New Caledonia ordered residents to evacuate coastal zones on the eastern edge of the archipelago, including the Loyalty Islands and the island of Ile des Pins. The evacuation order from the regional police said western islands didn’t need to evacuate but should remain vigilant.

While residents of the region are familiar with tsunami warnings and evacuations, the quake startled tourists, including communications consultant Eugenie Kerleau, 30, vacationing on the island of Lifou from her home in mainland France.

“It was really surprising, I had a feeling of vertigo, the curtains were moving. We were immediately evacuated from the hotel to a calmer point at higher altitude,” she told The Associated Press.

No damage was immediately reported, according to Vincent Lepley, crisis co-ordinator for the Red Cross in New Caledonia.

Judith Rostain, a freelance journalist based in New Caledonia’s capital, Noumea, said there was no damage to the city. She said the situation remained unclear on the east coast and scattered outer islands.

In Vanuatu, Dan McGarry said he heard only of three small wave surges hitting the southern island of Aneityum. McGarry, the media director at the Vanuatu Daily Post, said the waves travelled only a couple of meters beyond the normal tidal waves, and that everybody was fine on the island.

McGarry said he felt the quake where he is based in Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, as a mild shaking.

“We get a lot of earthquakes every year,” he said. “The tsunami warning was what was different this time, though.”

The warning centre said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck about 168 kilometres east of Tadine in New Caledonia at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. At least six aftershocks also hit, ranging in magnitude from 5.6 to 6.6.

The populations of Vanuatu and New Caledonia are similar, with just over 280,000 people living in each archipelago.

Last month, voters in New Caledonia elected to remain a territory of France rather than becoming independent. Both New Caledonia and Vanuatu sit on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.

Charlotte Antoine in Paris and Moussa Moussa in Sydney contributed to this report.
Tsunami waves reportedly strike parts of New Caledonia and northern Vanuatu following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake centered near the Loyalty Islands.