A tsunami alert has been sounded after a powerful earthquake hit islands in the Pacific.
The shake was recorded at 3.57am on Friday morning (May 19) at a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale.
It was pinpointed southeast of the islands at a depth of six miles, according to the US Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program.
A tsunami warning has been issued by the US Tsunami Warning System and waves of up to three metres above the tide level are possible along the coast of Vanuatu.
Waves up to one metre high may also strike coasts in Fiji, Kiribati and New Zealand, according to the warning system.
Other countries including Australia, Guam, Indonesia, French Polynesia and Guam could see waves of less than 0.3 metres.
The warning system issued a dispatch that advised people located in threatened coastal areas to "stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities".
The Loyalty Islands are located northeast of the New Caledonian mainland of Grande Terre, in the Pacific Ocean.
The islands are roughly 1000 miles northeast of Brisbane, Australia.
Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department have issued a statement warning that an earthquake of this size "has the potential to cause destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours".
The department added: "The National Disaster Management Office advises people over all Vanuatu group to take appropriate action and precautionary measures upon receiving this advisory. This includes immediate evacuation from coastal areas to higher grounds."
New Zealand's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned that some coastal areas could experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges as a result of the earthquake.
NEMA said: "Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.
"People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries."
It added that the dangerous currents surges "will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as real until this advisory is cancelled".
The agency advised people in areas under threat to stay away from beaches and shore areas but said there is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised to do so by local civil defence authorities.
An earthquake measuring 7.0 to 7.9 on the Richter scale is deemed "major".
There are about 20 major quakes per year worldwide, and they can cause very serious damage.
Indonesia was struck by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in 2010, which triggered a tsunami and killed more than 500 people.
READ MORE:
