7.7 magnitude earthquake jolts Solomon Islands, tsunami alert issued in South Pacific

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has hit off the Solomon Islands at 6.38am(NZT). The quake has put the nations in the South Pacific on alert for tsunami waves.

Widespread damaging tsunamis were possible following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The earthquake hit 70 kilometers from the island of Makira.

“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 centre said.

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