February 6, 2013 -- Updated 0256 GMT (1056 HKT)
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-- An 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific early Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, triggering a tsunami.
A tsunami warning was
issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea,
Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, and Wallis and Futuna,
according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
A tsunami watch was in
effect for more places: the Marshall Islands, Howland and Baker,
Pohnpei, Tokelau, Samoa, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, American Samoa,
Tonga, Australia, Niue, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Wake Island, Chuuk,
Jarvis Island, Guam, Northern Marianas, Palmyra Island, Yap, Johnston
Island, Minamitorishima and Pelau.
Brian Shiro, a
geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, told CNN that
instruments near the Solomon Islands indicated that a tsunami was in
fact generated. It is 1 meter high, he said, describing it as
"significant."
The event seems to be
localized to the region, Shiro said, and authorities are still waiting
to see if they want to expand the alert.
The New Caledonia High
Commission in the capital of Noumea ordered the immediate evacuation of
coastal residents on the eastern coast of New Caledonia and the Loyalty
Islands.
The center of the quake
was located some 360 miles east-southeast of Honiara, the capital of the
Solomon Islands, the USGS said. It was reported to be 3.6 miles deep.
The main quake was
preceded by a 6.3-magnitude quake in the region and was followed by
several others, the largest of which had a magnitude of 6.6, the USGS
said.
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