6 Feb 2013

Tsunami warning after quake off Solomons

3:06 pm on 6 February 2013

A tsunami warning has been issued for the western and central Pacific after a strong earthquake off Solomon Islands.

The US geological service says the quake measured 8 on the Richter scale.

The quake's centre was in the Santa Cruz islands and struck at a depth of 33 kilometres.

The tsunami centre says a 90 centimetre wave has been measured in Lata in Temotu province about 18 minutes after the tremor.

The Fiji authorities have advised all residents on low-lying coastal areas to evacuate to higher zones as soon as possible.

The tsunami warning is in force for Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji and Wallis and Futuna.