An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 has struck 284km off the coast of Fiji. The quake struck at 10.52am local time, the US Geological Survey said.



A Tsunami threat message was initially issued for parts of the Pacific closer to the epicentre according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The centre said hazardous tsunami waves were possible and could strike the coastline of Fiji by 11.45am.

A map from earthquake.usgs.gov shows the epicentre of an earthquake South west of Nadi, Fiji. Photograph: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

The centre said waves of between 0.3m and 1m above normal tide levels could be experienced. It added: “Government agencies responsible for threatened coastal areas should take action to inform and instruct any coastal populations at risk in accordance with their own evaluation procedures and the level of threat.”

The centre later stood down its warning, saying the threat had passed.

BREAKING: Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts within 300 km of epicenter after 7.2 magnitude quake southwest of Fiji: USGS — Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) January 3, 2017

“Remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea. Otherwise no action is required,” it said.

On parts of the Fiji coast there were reports that people had been told to evacuated low lying areas.

However elsewhere there appeared to be no sign of real concern.

Juliette Sivertsen, a journalist and writer, told the Guardian: “I’m in Nadi and actually didn’t feel anything. I’m coastal too – Wailoaloa Beach – but no sirens or any hint of an emergency here. A friend from NZ alerted me to the fact there’s been an EQ. People carrying on as normal around here.”

Sydneysider Dan Bennett was near the pool of his waterfront hotel in Suva at the time but did not feel any tremor. He was told by staff to pack up and prepare to evacuate.

“Everything outside is pretty crazy – there’s sirens going off and there’s cops everywhere,” he told AAP.

“I didn’t feel the quake. I was just reading about it on Twitter and then sirens started going off.”

Local Kelvin Anthony’s office in Suva was briefly evacuated but workers were allowed to return shortly after.

“It was an hour 30 minutes of rush and then we are back in office. Sipping coffee. Eating cake. Hustling,” he tweeted.