The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following a magnitude 7.3 earthquake near Vanuatu at 2:47 p.m. on Tuesday, 17 December.
The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) released the update at 3:45 p.m., assuring residents that assessments by NEMA and GNS Science indicate the earthquake is unlikely to have generated a tsunami posing any risk to New Zealand.
Earlier, a national advisory was issued as agencies began monitoring the situation and evaluating potential risks. At the time, NEMA stated that if a tsunami had been generated, it would not have reached New Zealand for at least two hours.
The WREMO Duty Team reassured the public that while the earthquake was significant, there is no cause for concern. Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official channels and remain prepared for future emergencies.