A widespread tsunami warning is in effect for the Northern Marianas, Guam, Wake Is, Taiwan, Yap, Marshall Islands, Philippines, Midway Is, Taiwan, Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Kosrae, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Johnston Is, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Howland-Baker, Hawaii, Tuvalu, Palmyra Is, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Niue, Australia, Fiji, Wallis Futuna, Samoa, American Samoa, New Caledonia, Tonga, Kermadec Is, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Easter Island (Chile) and Pitcairn Island.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says sea level readings confirm that a tsunami has been generated which could cause widespread damage.
Authorities should take appropriate action in response to this threat.
A tsunami is a series of waves and the first wave may not be the largest.
Tsunami wave heights cannot be predicted and can vary significantly along a coast due to local effects.
The time from one tsunami to the next can be five minutes to an hour and the threat can continue for many hours as multiple waves arrive.
In its fourth warning issued, the Pacific Tusnami Warning Centre has issued the following tsunami arrival estimates for Pacific Islands:
Northern Marianas: 0901 UTC
Guam: 0917 UTC
Yap: 0952 UTC
Marshall Islands (Enewetak): 1021 UTC
Palau: 1030 UTC
Pohnpei: 1036 UTC
Chuuk: 1041 UTC
Manokwari: 1125 UTC
Jayapura: 1142 UTC
Papua New Guinea (Kavieng): 1132 UTC
Nauru: 1157 UTC
Solomon Islands (Panggoe): 1228 UTC
Kiribati (Tarawa): 1236 UTC
Hawaii: 1307 UTC
Tuvalu: 1338 UTC
Vanuatu (Esperitu Santo): 1416 UTC
Tokelau: 1417 UTC
Wallis-Futuna: 1435 UTC
Samoa: 1453 UTC
American Samoa: 1500 UTC
Cook Islands: 1500 UTC
Niue: 1535 UTC
Australia (Cairns): 1535 UTC
Fiji: 1537 UTC
New Caledonia: 1538 UTC
Tonga: 1605 UTC
Kermadec Is: 1656 UTC
French Polynesia (Papeete): 1714 UTC
New Zealand (North Cape): 1723 UTC
Pitcairn Island: 2008 UTC
Easter Islands: 2303 UTC