The French High Commission has warned the people on the Marquesas Islands to prepare for waves of up to 1.4 metres following today's Chilean tsunami.
People in the city of Valparaiso keep a close eye on the shoreline after a massive quake hit off the Chilean coast. Photo: AFP
The tsunami resulted from an 8.3 magnitude earthquake near the coast of Chile late this morning, causing waves of up to 3 metres high.
According to the latest Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre dispatch at 1010 UTC (11pm New Zealand time), the tsunami was expected to reach Rarotonga before 1100 UTC.
Early ground reports from Tahiti indicate there was a wave of around 30 centimetres height in Papeete.
And before that, Easter Island reportedly experienced a wave increase of 1.1 metre.
Earlier, the Geophysical Laboratory in Tahiti said waves of slightly higher than one metre could be expected in the Marquesas and no higher than 30 centimetres in the most populated parts of the territory.
The French High Commissioner called for people in the Marquesas not to stay on the coast tonight and to check moorings.
Much of the Pacific has been warned about a possible tsunami threat with waves up to a metre high but in most cases not expected until the early hours of tomorrow morning.
More distant parts of the Pacific are forecast to be affected by smaller waves later on Friday.
In American Samoa a tsunami advisory has been issued but the National Weather Service says the territory is not under any threat.
An alert has been issued in the Cook Islands, as has Niue, though it does not expect a significant impact given its topography and its location.
But it says mariners should expect a tidal surge after 1 tomorrow morning. (1300 UTC).
In New Zealand preparations are being made on the country's east coast, with a wave cof no more than a metre expected.
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre - Estimated times of arrival (in bold)
LOCATION, REGION: COORDINATES - ETA (UTC)
PAPEETE, FRENCH POLYNESIA: 17.5S 149.6W - 1012 09/17
RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS: 21.2S 159.8W - 1043 09/17
FLINT ISLAND, KIRIBATI: 11.4S 151.8W - 1055 09/17
MALDEN ISLAND, KIRIBATI: 3.9S 154.9W - 1141 09/17
PENRYN ISLAND, COOK ISLANDS: 8.9S 157.8W - 1147 09/17
NIUE ISLAND, NIUE: 19.0S 170.0W - 1150 09/17
NUKUALOFA, TONGA: 21.0S 175.2W - 1219 09/17
PUKAPUKA ISLAND, COOK ISLANDS: 10.8S 165.9W - 1220 09/17
PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA: 14.3S 170.7W - 1226 09/17
CHRISTMAS ISLAND, KIRIBATI: 2.0N 157.5W - 1231 09/17
APIA, SAMOA: 13.8S 171.8W - 1240 09/17
WALLIS ISLAND, WALLIS AND FUTUNA: 13.3S 176.3W - 1300 09/17
NUKUNONU ISLAND, TOKELAU: 9.2S 171.8W - 1302 09/17
FUTUNA ISLAND, WALLIS AND FUTUNA: 14.3S 178.2W - 1323 09/17
PALMYRA ISLAND, PALMYRA ISLAND: 5.9N 162.1W - 1325 09/17
SUVA, FIJI: 18.1S 178.4E - 1339 09/17
KANTON ISLAND, KIRIBATI: 2.8S 171.7W - 1342 09/17
ANATOM ISLAND, VANUATU: 20.2S 169.9E - 1414 09/17
HOWLAND ISLAND, HOWLAND AND BAKE: 0.6N 176.6W - 1426 09/17
JOHNSTON ISLAND, JOHNSTON ISLAND: 16.7N 169.5W - 1437 09/17
NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA: 22.3S 166.5E - 1454 09/17
ESPERITU SANTO, VANUATU: 15.1S 167.3E - 1515 09/17
SANTA CRUZ ISLA, SOLOMON ISLANDS: 10.9S 165.9E - 1539 09/17
TARAWA ISLAND, KIRIBATI: 1.5N 173.0E - 1556 09/17
MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS: 7.1N 171.4E - 1620 09/17
KWAJALEIN, MARSHALL ISLANDS: 8.7N 167.7E - 1647 09/17
ENIWETOK, MARSHALL ISLANDS: 11.4N 162.3E - 1748 09/17
