9 Dec 2016

Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes Solomon Islands

From Morning Report, 8:25 am on 9 December 2016
The earthquake was centred 68km west-south-west of Kirakira, Solomon Islands

The earthquake was centred 68km west-south-west of Kirakira, Solomon Islands Photo: Supplied / USGS

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck 70 kilometres off the coast of the Solomon Islands just after 6:30am this morning.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible along some coasts of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.

Civil Defence says the potential tsunami threat for marine and beach areas in New Zealand has been cancelled.