6.2-magnitude quake hits off Solomon Islands

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

The quake struck at 8:05 am (2205 GMT Wednesday) 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 percent 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.