The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake hit at 2.47pm NZ time. An aftershock of magnitude 5.5 was recorded by the USGC at
On social media images are beginning to emerge of some damage to buildings.
NZ Civil Defence put out an update saying an assessment was taking place on whether earthquake poses any tsunami threat to New Zealand. They stated if a tsunami has been generated it is not likely to arrive in New Zealand for at least 2 hours.
That statement was updated at 3.50pm to state no risk exsisted.
There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the M7.3 Kermadec Islands earthquake. Go to https://t.co/ccVFYR8001 for more information.
— National Emergency Management Agency (@NZcivildefence) December 17, 2024
A video on Vanuatu Dialogue Live Facebook page by Milroy Cainton shows damage to a building where it is thought the New Zealand, US and French Embassy’s, among others, are situated.