Earthquake Sends a Slight Shake Down South Pacific—No Big Drama
On Wednesday, a 7.1‑magnitude quake rocked the waters near New Caledonia. With a shallow 10‑km focus, the tremor sent pockets of the Pacific rippling and left a faint wave of uncertainty in its wake.
Boom‑Bang Over the Coral
- Magnitude: 7.1 (initially pegged at 7.0)
- Depth: just 10 km (about 6 miles) below the surface
- Location: roughly 372 km (230 miles) east of Noumea
- Time: 7:22 AM, August 29, 2018
Where the Tsunami Worries Linger
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center raised a low‑key alert, saying:
- Potential waves: up to 1 meter (3.3 ft) on New Caledonia, Fiji, and Vanuatu
- Surprise wave size: about 30 cm (1 ft) could hit coastlines stretching from the Pacific islands to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand
Real‑World Check
New Caledonia’s Civil Defence captain Olivier Ciry gave the fresh‑in‑the‑air update:
- Recorded 40 cm (16 in) waves on the main island
- Only 5 cm (2 in) on the Loyalty Islands, just 100 km (60 miles) closer to the epicenter
- “We felt it, and the locals felt it even stronger down there,” Ciry laughed. “Sea moved a bit, no building damage, no injuries—everything’s back to normal.”
Meanwhile, Laisenia Rawace, Fiji’s seismic monitor, answered a call from Suva: “We’re on the watch list, keeping an eye on things. No weird readings on the tide gauges so far.”
Why It Matters
The quake happened right on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a notoriously earthquake‑hot zone. It follows the big, deep tremor near Fiji just ten days earlier and the large but harmless quakes near the Loyalty Islands last year. So, while it rattled the water, it left the islands safe and sound.
Bottom Line
Big shaking, no damage, a splash of possible waves—but mostly a quiet reminder that the Pacific can still throw a bump in the road. Stay safe, everyone!
