6.2-magnitude quake hits off Solomon Islands

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit off the Solomon Islands on Thursday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit off the Solomon Islands on Thursday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

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The quake struck at a depth of 54 kilometres (33 miles) around 260 kilometres (160 miles) east of the capital Honiara, according to the US Geological Survey.

GeoScience Australia said damage would have occurred within a 37 kilometre (22 mile) radius and there were were no immediate reports of any destruction.

"It was too small to create a tsunami," a GeoScience official said.

"Some small townships may have felt a moderate shake, but for most of the population it will have been just another quake. They have stacks of them out there.

"We're 99.9% sure there will be no damage."

In 2007 a tsunami following an 8.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least 52 people in the Solomon Islands and left thousands homeless.