A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu on Tuesday, triggering a warning for potential tsunami waves, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake, initially reported as magnitude 7.4, occurred at a depth of 43 kilometers (27 miles) and was centered about 30 kilometers west of Port Vila, the capital of the Pacific island nation.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning center in their bulletin said that, “Tsunami waves have been observed.” They forecast waves reaching heights of up to one metre (about three feet) in certain coastal regions of Vanuatu.
For several Pacific island territories, including Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, the centre anticipated tsunami waves measuring under 30 centimetres (one foot) above normal tidal levels, reported news agency AFP.
The initial earthquake was succeeded by another tremor measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale in the identical region.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, tornado struck northern California injuring at least four people, flipping several cars, and bringing down power lines, according to local authorities.
The tornado caused widespread damage in Scotts Valley, located around 89 kilometres south of San Francisco.
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