People gather outside after tsunami warning in Noumea

New Caledonia lifted its tsunami warning to citizens after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday in the Pacific Ocean southeast of the territory. The quake was detected some 340 kilometers east of Vao City in New Caledonia, a French Pacific territory, according to the US Geological Survey.

In New Caledonia, the police had evacuated the coast and tsunami sirens had been activated. Tsunami waves of 1-3 meters above tide are possible along some coastal areas of Vanuatu, according to the Honolulu-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.