7.0 magnitude earthquake rocks Solomon Islands

A major 7(point)7-magnitude quake struck today off the Solomon Islands triggering severe shaking and a tsunami warning. However, officials said there were no reports of any serious damage.

Initially the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued warning of possible "widespread, hazardous" tsunami waves which forced villagers to flee to higher ground. But the warning was downgraded within three



hours as the threat passed without major incident.

The US Geological Survey said the quake hit at 4:38 a.m., with its epicentre located 68 kilometres west of Kirakira, a provincial capital in the Solomon Islands.

Duty seismologist at Geoscience Australia Hugh Glanville, said the offshore epicentre of the earthquake and sparsely populated areas helped minimise the impact.