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Solomon Islands earthquake: Tsunami warning lifted after magnitude 7.7 quake strikes Pacific Ocean | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck the Solomon Islands, sparking a warning for "hazardous tsunami waves" that was later lifted. | |
The quake hit shortly after 4.38am local time on Friday (5.30pm GMT) and was followed by four aftershocks, with the epicentre recorded off the coast of Makira island at a depth of 30 miles (48.7km). | |
Phone lines were down and electricity cuts reported in some areas but there were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage. | |
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for "hazardous tsunami waves" along some coasts of the Solomon Islands, Hawaii, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae but lifted it two hours later. | |
Officials said residents in affected areas should remain alert but that fluctuations of only 30cm above and below sea level were expected. | |
"Based on all available date the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed," a statement said. | |
Australian authorities also said there was no risk to its coastlines, while the New Zealand Civil Defence office said it was evaluating the situation. | Australian authorities also said there was no risk to its coastlines, while the New Zealand Civil Defence office said it was evaluating the situation. |
The Earthquake Track website intitially detected a strength of magnitude eight but the US Geological Society later revised the figure to 7.7. | The Earthquake Track website intitially detected a strength of magnitude eight but the US Geological Society later revised the figure to 7.7. |
The Solomon Islands are located in the Pacific's geologically active "Ring of Fire", which contains more than 400 volcanoes and fault lines generating frequent quakes. | The Solomon Islands are located in the Pacific's geologically active "Ring of Fire", which contains more than 400 volcanoes and fault lines generating frequent quakes. |