Solomon Islands struck by 7.6 quake

12 Apr, 2014 08:46 PM2 minutes to read

A large earthquake has struck off the Solomon Islands. Photo / NTWC

APNZ

Are you in the area? Did you feel the quake? Contact the Herald here.

A tsunami warning for New Zealand has been cancelled following a downgrade of the severity of an earthquake in the Solomon Islands today.

The quake was initially reported as 8.3 in magnitude, but has now been revised to 7.6, Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management spokesman Vince Cholewa said.

But people were urged to still take care around coastal areas today, he said.

"The advice from the Tsunami Expert Panel is there is no tsunami risk to New Zealand, however, there will be stronger and unusual currents along the coast and they'll be magnified along harbours and estuaries.

"So if people are at beaches or in boats, they should be particularly careful and they should expect stronger currents and quite different currents all day,'' Mr Cholewa said.

The 33km deep quake struck about 8.15am (NZT).

It prompted a tsunami warning for the immediate area and a tsunami watch for outer areas, including New Zealand.

It was not known whether there were any injuries or deaths at the Solomon Islands.

The 33km deep quake was centred 100km south east of San Cristobal Island.

People in the Solomons were being urged to head to high ground, RNZ reported.