Pacific tsunami warning lifted
2007-04-02 09:06
Honiara - A Pacific-wide tsunami warning following a powerful earthquake early on Monday off the Solomons Islands has been lifted, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
"For all areas the tsunami warning and tsunami watch are cancelled," the Hawai-based centre said, hours after the 8.0 magnitude undersea triggered a tsunami that hit the Solomons.
The centre said there had been reports of tsunami-related deaths in the Solomon Islands, where authorities have reported six people dead, as well as Papua New Guinea.
"When no major waves are observed for two hours after the estimated time of arrival, or damaging waves have not occurred for at least two hours, then local authorities can assume the threat is passed," it said.
It said there could still be danger to boats and coastal structures in the immediate area.
"No tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas in the Pacific although some other areas may experience small sea level changes."
The quake struck at 07:40 local time (20:40 GMT) centred about 350km west-northwest of the capital Honiara at a depth of 10km, the US Geological Survey and Hong Kong Observatory said.
- AFP