Magnitude 6.7 earthquake strikes off Solomon islands

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck off the Solomon Islands on Tuesday (Dec 20), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). PHOTO: USGS

SYDNEY (REUTERS) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck off the Solomon Islands on Tuesday (Dec 20), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

It was the second powerful tremor in the islands to Australia's north in less than two weeks .

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said the quake, which was centred some 120km north-west of Kira Kira at a depth of 44km, had not triggered any tsunami threat.

It came less than two weeks after a powerful 7.8 earthquake struck off the Solomons, perched on the geologically active "Pacific Ring of Fire", triggering a tsunami warning for a wide swath of the South Pacific that sent hundreds of villagers rushing to higher ground.

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