“The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a warning for South Pacific countries including Fiji, New Zealand and Tonga after the earthquake. There was no threat to Australia.

Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami alert, warning waves of up to 50 centimetres. The first waves were predicted to hit the Ogasawara island chain, 1000 kilometres south of Tokyo, at around 11am (12pm AEST).

NZ authorities warned at 10.30am (AEST) coastal areas could still be hit by a wave of up to one metre.

Tonga was hit by four-metre waves but no casualties were reported, NZPA said.”