Two earthquakes hit New Caledonia

Nouméa: Two earthquakes have hit the coast of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands, according to the US Geological Survey.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for the southeast Loyalty islands after an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Tadine, New Caledonia region on Thursday.

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 6.8 - 278 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia https://t.co/wTPIKOxg3Z

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) March 31, 2022

The quake, which had initially been put at 7.2 magnitude, was at a depth of 10 km, USGS said. 

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.2 - 280 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia https://t.co/EMkWNpnTWF

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) March 31, 2022

A second 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck about an hour and a half later, 263km southeast of the Loyalty Islands.