Wellington, New Zealand:
A Pacific-wide tsunami alert was issued Friday immediately after a 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck close to New Zealand’s remote Kermadec islands, following on from two effective quakes earlier.
New Zealand ordered coastal evacuations as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned waves of up to 3 metres (10 feet) have been feasible in the Pacific area nations of Vanuatu and the French territory of New Caledonia.
“Based on all available data, hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts,” it stated.
It stated smaller sized waves have been feasible as far afield as Japan, Russia, Mexico and the South American coast.