7.0 quake off New Caledonia sparks tsunami alert but no damage

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of New Caledonia on Monday, triggering a brief tsunami warning and evacuation alert but causing no significant damage, local officials said. The US Geological Survey said the shallow tremor hit approximately 82 kilometres east of the lightly populated Loyalty Islands at around 09:45 am (2245 GMT). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued an alert saying areas within 300 kilometres (180 miles) could be affected, including Vanuatu and New Caledonia, whose capital Noumea sits some 250 kilometres east of the epicentre.

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