WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – A powerful earthquake under the sea has hit northern New Zealand, causing tsunami warnings for several island nations.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Wednesday night and was centered at a depth of 10 miles southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
The quake was not expected to cause significant damage or deaths on land.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center has issued warnings of possible tsunami waves ranging from 0.3 to 1 meter (1 to 3.3 feet) for Vanuatu and Fiji.
A tsunami watch was issued and then canceled for American Samoa.
The region is prone to earthquakes because it sits along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the sea.