Magnitude 6.5 quake off Solomons; no tsunami

Sydney: A shallow 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific off the Solomon Islands on Frida, seismologists said, but no tsunami threat was issued and no major damage was expected. The quake hit 154 kilometers (96 miles) southwest of Dadali and 170 kilometers west of the capital Honiara, according to US Geological Survey. USGS had initially measured the earthquake at 7.0 magnitude but revised it down. It was followed by a 5.3 tremor. "Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

The Solomons are part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a zone of tectonic activity known for its frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. "Honiara would have certainly felt this. There would have been a bit of shaking, but only light shaking at this distance," Geoscience Australia seismologist Jonathan Bathgate said. "It is unlikely if there will be much damage, if any."

A spokesman for the National Disaster Management Office in the Solomons said that "at the moment, no reports have come in of any damage". In 2013, the Solomons were hit by a tsunami after an 8.0-magnitude quake, leaving at least 10 people dead and thousands homeless after buildings were destroyed.