Tsunami warning issued for Western Pacific

This follows an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3. A tsunami can strike coast within minutes to hours

Published May 27, 2010 6:19PM (EDT)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu has issued a tsunami warning for Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

The warning was issued Thursday morning, Hawaii time, following an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

It was centered in Vanuatu, about 133 north-northwest of Santo, or 1,290 miles northeast of Brisbane, Australia.

The warning center says it's not known if a tsunami was generated

However, it says a quake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region within minutes to hours.


By Associated Press

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