Today morning, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck southern Fiji, around 234 kilometers away from the island. The depth of this earthquake was shallow, measured just at 10 kms below the Earth’s surface. The warning of tsunami was announced initially but the news was withdrawn after an hour or so after the second earthquake.
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The U.S. Geological Survey reported another 5.7-magnitude aftershock which rattled the islands. The initial earthquake hit Fiji at 10:52 am local time which was of 6.9 magnitude.
Earthquake strikes off coast of Fiji sparking tsunami warning https://t.co/B397CMK6aw
— Guardian news (@guardiannews) January 3, 2017
BREAKING: Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts within 300 km of epicenter after 7.2 magnitude quake southwest of Fiji: USGS — Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) January 3, 2017
We're now being told to pack and prepare to evacuate. #suva #fiji #tsunamiwarning
— Dan Bennett (@DanMBennett) January 3, 2017
Fiji director of Oxfam, Jovesa Saladoka, told Reuters, "The earthquake caused a fair bit of panic; there are cars lined up trying to get to higher ground,"
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There were reports of at least two aftershocks with magnitudes of more than 5 rattled Fiji soon after the quake.
Spiro Spiliopoulos a senior seismologist at the Geoscience Australia said that the earthquake occurred near the tectonic plates around the Australian and Pacific plates. He said the stronger earthquake was felt on Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga and parts of American Samoa.
Radio New Zealand reported that people evacuated from Nadi, in Fiji with a population of about 42,000, after the earthquake.
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No threat to life or property has been reported till now.
Image Credit: Kelvin Anthony
Please Note: Any information picked from here must be attributed to skymetweather.com
