Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 and 6.0 hit the Solomon Islands on Tuesday afternoon. However, the authorities in Solomon Islands have ruled out the tsunami warnings. No immediate damages have been reported so far in the area.
The authorities in the Solomon Islands said that no tsunami warning would be issued after two earthquakes on Tuesday afternoon, including one with a magnitude of 7.0 just off the southwest coast, reported Reuters.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the first quake hit at a depth of 15 km (9 miles), about 16 km (10 miles) southwest of the area of Malango. The Survey had initially reported a magnitude at 7.3.
Meanwhile, after 30 minutes later a second quake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck the Islands.
The Soloman Islands Meteorological Service said there is no tsunami threat to the country. An initial tsunami warning was withdrawn after the threat passed.
"People are also advised to be vigilant as aftershocks are expected to continue," an employee said on social media was quoted by Reuters.
In the wake of the earthquake, widespread power outages were reported across the Islands.
Government spokesperson George Herming said he was in his office on the second floor of a building in the capital, Honiara, when the quake rocked the city. He said he crawled underneath his table, reported PTI.
It's a huge one that just shocked everybody, Herming said.
We have tables and desks, books and everything scattered all over the place as a result of the earthquake, but there's no major damage to structure or buildings, he said reported PTI.
Herming also said that there was some panic around the town and traffic jams as everybody tried to drive to higher ground.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre initially warned of possible hazardous waves for the region but later downgraded a tsunami warning as the threat passed.
The Solomon Islands sit on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc along the Pacific Ocean rim where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
(With inputs from agencies)
