Large waves were already detected in New Caledonia following an earthquake of magnitude seven near the Loyalty Islands in the Pacific Ocean on Monday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves could get as high as one metre above the high tide-mark in New Caledonia, with smaller waves expected in Vanuatu.
The waves will vary in size depending on the coastline and the Great Barrier Reef is expected to reduce some of the wave height, experts warned.
However, they added that the first wave will not be the largest.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, areas within an 180 mile radius could be affected including Vanuatu and New Caledonia, whose capital Noumea sits 250 kilometres east of the epicentre.
Initially all of the residents of the Loyalty Islands were told to evacuate, however after an hour they were told the threat had subsided but to remain vigilant.
Vanatu’s National Disaster Management Office advised people in southern provinces to evacuate to higher ground.
New Caledonia’s civil security agency said it was not planning to evacuate immediately as it was still receiving data about the severity of the tsunami.
The earthquake struck 51 miles east of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands at 9.43am local time.
It followed a series of tremors to hit the area around the islands in the past few weeks.
Currently there have been no reports of damage following the tsunami threat.
