Los Angeles (People’s Daily) -A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacifc, jeopardizing Loyalty Islands and New Caledonia, east of Australia, as first reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake's epicenter was measured at 82 km (51 miles) northeast of Tadine, Mare Island, and has a population of roughly 6,000. 
The quake epicenter was measured at 10 km (6 miles) deep.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) has issued a warning for "hazardous tsunami waves" for coastilines 300 km from the epicenter, placing the Loyalty Islands, with a populationover 17,000, within reach.
A 5.1 aftershock occurred within minutes of the first quake about 14km from nearby coastlines.
Information from early USGS reports measured the quake at 7.3. 
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