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Tsunami warning: Solomons 7.7 quake prompts alert Tsunami warning: Solomons 7.7 quake prompts alert
(35 minutes later)
A tsunami warning has been issued in a wide area of the South Pacific following a powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands. A tsunami warning has been issued in some parts of the South Pacific following a powerful earthquake off the Solomon Islands.
The 7.7 magnitude quake struck about 70km (43 miles) off Kirakira, according to the US Geological Survey.The 7.7 magnitude quake struck about 70km (43 miles) off Kirakira, according to the US Geological Survey.
It said it occurred at about 17:40 GMT (04:40 Friday local time), with a 5.5 magnitude aftershock about 25 minutes later. It said it occurred at about 17:40 GMT (04:40 Friday local time), followed by three aftershocks.
Places were being evacuated, with people moving to higher ground. Phones and electricity were down in some areas, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
Users on social media said there were some blackouts in the capital, Honiara, but that there were no immediate reports of damage. Users on social media said some places were being evacuated, with people moving to higher ground. Some said there had been no tsunami sirens.
Some said there had been no tsunami sirens. Tsunami waves of between 1m (3ft) to 3m (10ft) above the tide level were possible along some coasts of the Solomon Islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
Hazardous waves could hit parts of the coasts of the Solomons, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae within the next three hours, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Waves of up to 1m could hit Papua New Guinea, while smaller waves could reach French Polynesia. A tsunami watch for Hawaii has been cancelled.
US officials say they are investigating if there is a threat to Hawaii. The Solomon Islands are located in the Pacific's geologically active "Ring of Fire".