Tsunami waves hit alert New Caledonia and Vanuatu after big quake hits Pacific

Two small waves have been detected in New Caledonia and Vanuatu following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck east of the Loyalty Islands. 

Reuters reported two waves hit at 12.35pm (NZT).  The waves were about 40 centimetres high. 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said the tsunami threat had now passed. 

The quake hit at 11:43am (NZT) at a depth of 25km close to the Loyalty Islands, near New Caledonia, according to the US Geological Service (USGS).

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"We are a little bit scared, we have had an earthquake last night and today it was quite a big one," said Wayan Rigault, communications manager at Hotel Nengone Village on the island of Mare, told Reuters. 

Rigault said there was no immediate damage, but guests were on alert for a formal evacuation warning.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management said there was no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the quake.

"Based on current information, the initial assessment is that the earthquake is unlikely to have caused a tsunami that will pose a threat to New Zealand."

"Minor sea level fluctuations...may continue over the next few hours," a statement from the agency said.

Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office advised people in southern provinces to evacuate coastal areas for higher ground..

New Caledonia's civil security agency made no plans to evacuate coastal places immediately.

The quake was initially rated at 7.3 magnitude by the USGS.