Australia Issues Tsunami Alert after 7.4 Magnitude

Australia issued a Tsunami alert after a huge and strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake near by the Australian islands.

The earthquake was reported at depth of 29.3 km (18.21 miles) near Macquarie island.

Declared by the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center, the threats are announced first at Macquarie and surrounding territories.

Early this year, Tongans fled to higher ground as a major volcanic explosion sent tsunami waves slamming onto the South Pacific island, prompting tsunami warnings as far as the United States West Coast, according to the Japan Times.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology in Australia, a tsunami wave of 1.2 metres was observed in Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital.

Mere Taufa, a local resident, said she was in her house getting ready for supper when the undersea volcano erupted, flooding her home.

“It was huge; the ground shook, and our house shook.” It came in fits and starts. Taufa told the Stuff news website, “My younger brother feared bombs were exploding nearby.”