December 25th, 2010
09:13 AM ET

Tsunami warning issued after strong quake in Pacific Ocean

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean's Vanuatu Islands region early Sunday, prompting a tsunami warning for the area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake struck 135 kilometers (85 miles) west of the island of Tanna, Vanuatu and 1,740 kilometers (about 1,100 miles) off Australia's eastern coast just after midnight local time (8:16 a.m. ET).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a regional warning for a part of the Pacific, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours," the center said. "Authorities in the region should take appropriate action in response to this possibility."

The tsunami warning did not include the U.S. state of Hawaii, though some coastal areas of the islands could experience very rough seas and strong currents.

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Filed under: Weather
soundoff (202 Responses)
  1. I don't understand Ya'll.

    Don't any of you have better things to do. Like family, watching the tube, hobbies, walking the dog or loving your kids and wives. All of this is drivel and leads to nonsensical conversations.

    December 26, 2010 at 4:37 am | Report abuse |
  2. Big Joe

    @banasy: It's already twice that Pig Vomit interjects when I'm not addressing her. She also acts as if she has exclusive rights to the www and the 1st Amendment. Last I checked she owns neither. Pig Vomit also seems like a spoiled brat that must always have her way. We all know the type.

    December 26, 2010 at 6:10 am | Report abuse |
  3. Big Joe

    @banasy/Phil I'm trying Big Joe instead of Cesar. Cesar ain't my real name anyway.

    December 26, 2010 at 6:14 am | Report abuse |
  4. phil

    Big Joe it is then. I must file a protest though, on the grounds that a.) Cesar is a real name, BJ isn't. b.) Hoss was the big one, Joe was little. (from an old tv show "Bonanza") and c.) see 'BJ' above. Heh-heh-heh. Whatever you call yourself is fine by me friend. Glad to see you made it thru the night.

    December 26, 2010 at 9:01 am | Report abuse |
  5. phil

    @Earthymama...thanks for not ignoring my post(s) and especially thanks for posting the real earthquake scale. I was hoping someone would. Nice to meet you finally.

    December 26, 2010 at 9:17 am | Report abuse |
  6. phil

    @ I blah blah blah Y'all...as if our kids go hungry while we are here. I come here because it's getting more and more difficult to find people openly discussing these subjects in my day-to-day life. These things are important to me.

    December 26, 2010 at 9:40 am | Report abuse |
  7. Jon

    Here's my theory:

    http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7715724-cataclysmic-earthquakes-and-volcanoes-are-coming

    December 26, 2010 at 10:23 am | Report abuse |
  8. Big Joe

    @Jon: One million earthquakes per year starting in the year 2020 sounds way too high for this layman. I can't prove you wrong, but still, one million-no way.

    December 26, 2010 at 1:21 pm | Report abuse |
  9. phil

    Gee, and I was saving "hail Cesar" for a special time. "Hail Big Joe" doesn't do much, if anything. It's gonna take some getting used to I reckon.

    December 26, 2010 at 9:36 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Big Joe

    @Phil: Hail to the Queen of England. Hail to Tomcat, Hail to phil. Long may they live! Here. Here. Hail to CNN!

    December 27, 2010 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
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