7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Causes Small Tsunami on South Pacific Islands

7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Causes Small Tsunami on South Pacific Islands
Steam billows from Lake Vui in the volcano crater of Mount Manaro on the island of Ambae, part of the Vanuatu islands chain, on Dec. 8, 2005. Rick Rycroft/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—A 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused a small tsunami to wash ashore on South Pacific islands Friday. No damage has been reported, and the threat passed in a few hours.

Waves 60 centimeters (2 feet) above tide level were measured off Lenakel, a port town in Vanuatu, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Smaller waves were measured by coastal or deep-ocean gauges elsewhere off Vanuatu and off New Caledonia and New Zealand.