HONIARA — A tsunami warning has been issued for some Pacific islands following a powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake near the Solomon Islands.
The United States Geological Service said the quake struck around 7:14 a.m. local time Sunday. Its epicentre was 323 kilometres southeast of Honiara, the Solomons capital, and its depth was 29.3 kilometres.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a warning for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The centre says it’s not known if the quake generated a tsunami but it was powerful enough to trigger one.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the temblor.
The Solomon Islands lies on the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity that stretches around the Pacific Rim.