Quake Sets Off Wide Tsunami Warning

Apr 01, 07:58 PM

Current Headlines: Two big earthquakes shook the depths of the South Pacific near the Solomon Islands, prompting tsunami warnings for a wide area including Indonesia.

The warnings also covered Australia, Papua New Guinea and several other islands in the region, while Japanese authorities warned of likely tidal waves along their coast Monday.

Tsunami watches were posted for New Zealand, the Philippines, American Samoa, Guam and Fiji, CNN reported.

Separately, the U.S. National Weather Service and the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued an advisory for residents along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska coast, while noting a damaging tsunami was not expected.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the first earthquake with a magnitude 7.6 was centered 25 miles south-southeast of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, CNN reported. The second quake with a magnitude 6.7 struck minutes later.

The BBC reported the first quake struck about 7:40 a.m. local time six miles below the surface, and was centered about 220 miles west-northwest of the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara, northeast of Australia. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.