A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit off the
Solomon Islands early on Friday, triggering a tsunami warning in
a wide area of the South Pacific.
The quake struck at 4.38am (1738 GMT Thursday) at a depth
of 49 km (30 miles), the US Geological Survey said. It was
initially reported to be of magnitude 8.0.
"Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible
within the next three hours along some coasts of Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu
and Kosrae," the US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
(PTWC) said.
Authorities are looking to see if there is a tsunami threat
to Hawaii, the PTWC said, adding that the estimated earliest
arrival of any tsunami wave there would be 2.56pm Hawaii
Standard Time (0056 GMT Friday).
The PTWC will issue messages hourly until the threat has
passed, it said.
