7.7-magnitude quake hits off Solomon Islands, tsunami threat

A major 7.7-magnitude quake struck today off the Solomon Islands, raising the threat of "widespread, hazardous" tsunami waves, officials said.

The US Geological Survey said some casualties and damage were possible from the quake, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning centre said some coasts in the Solomons, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae could be affected within the next three hours.

The epicentre of the quake, which hit at 4:38 am (local time) was located 68 kilometres west of Kirakira, a provincial capital in the Solomon Islands, at a depth of 48 kilometres.