A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the South Pacific on Friday, triggering tsunami warnings for a number of Pacific island nations. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s tsunami warning system reported waves as high as three feet could hit Vanuatu, an island nation with a population of about 300,000. The authorities in Vanuatu urged people in coastal areas to move to higher ground. The U.S. agency issued a tsunami alert for coasts within 600 miles of the earthquake epicenter, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Kiribati, Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency urged people along its northeastern shore to move away from beaches, harbors and rivers. People in the affected areas should remain vigilant and follow the advice of local authorities.
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