This photograph taken on December 18, 2021 shows a mangrove in Poindimie, eastern coast of New Caledonia. (THEO ROUBY / AFP)

The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for southeast of Loyalty islands after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Tadine, New Caledonia region on Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake, which had initially been put at 7.2 magnitude, was at a depth of 10 km, USGS said.

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