A strong earthquake has occurred south of the New Caledonia archipelago, approximately 1000 kilometers east of Australia.

The earthquake has been measured at magnitude 7.6.

A tsunami warning has now been issued and authorities are urging residents to take shelter.

Dangerous waves cannot be ruled out in the western Pacific Ocean, after a large earthquake near New Caledonia, writes the tsunami center PTWC.

”"A tsunami threat exists for parts of the Pacific Ocean near the earthquake," writes PTWC.
The earthquake that occurred early Wednesday morning, Swedish time, had a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, and was centered at a depth of ten kilometers approximately 30 nautical miles east of New Caledonia's capital, Noumea, writes the US seismic agency USGS.

Authorities are now urging residents to seek shelter.
The island group of New Caledonia is a French territory and as recently as a month ago the inhabitants voted against independence from France. Just over a quarter of a million people live on New Caledonia.

Source:TT-aftonbladet.se