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Powerful 7.2 quake strikes off Fiji Massive quake off Fiji triggers tsunami warning within 300km radius
(35 minutes later)
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 has struck off the coast of Fiji, according to the US Geological Survey. A powerful earthquake has struck off the coast of Fiji, triggering a tsunami warning within 300km of the epicenter. The USGS downgraded the quake to 6.9 while the PTWC measured it at 7.0, warning that waves up to 1 meter might hit the island nation.
The quake centered some 221 km southwest of Nadi at a depth of 15.2 km, the USGS said. The quake, initially measured at 7.2 magnitude, was centered some 221 km southwest of Nadi at a depth of 15.2 km, the USGS said. A strong 5.7 aftershock followed the initial quake and was registered 245 km southwest of Nadi at a depth of 10 km.
Tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned. Tsunami waves up to 1 meter above the tide level are possible for coasts located within 300 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned.
The PTWC stressed that based on available data, there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii and only “parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake” are at risk.The PTWC stressed that based on available data, there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii and only “parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake” are at risk.
Tsunami waves, according to the PTWC, are expected to reach Suva, the capital of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji at 10:45pm GMT. Tsunami waves, according to the PTWC, are expected to reach Suva, the capital of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji at 10:45pm GMT. However, the first wave might not be the strongest one and the time between wave crests can vary from 5 minutes to an hour, while the “hazard may persist for many hours or longer after the initial wave,” the PTWC explained.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW “Persons caught in the water of a tsunami may drown... be crushed by debris in the water... or be swept out to sea,” the centre warned.
The population of the Greater Suva urban area was 172,399 people according to the 2007 census.
Meanwhile, Fiji’s southern neighbor New Zealand said there is no tsunami threat to their nation.
The Fiji Islands are seismically active. One of the most destructive Fijian tsunamis hit Suva on 14 September 1953, following a 6.8 magnitude quake. It caused major damage and destruction to the wharf and infrastructure and resulted in eight deaths in Suva. It was determined that the cause of the tsunami was a 60 million cubic meter submarine landslide at the head of the Suva Canyon.