Solomon Islands Earthquake Slams with 7-2 Magnitude

Sydney, Australia - The Solomon Islands archipelago in the Pacific was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake today, less than an hour after a 6.5-magnitude temblor triggered a warning of possible local tsunamis.

The quake hit at 9:36 a.m. local time about 103 kilometers (64 miles) south-southeast of Gizo, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The earthquake was 30.5 kilometers deep.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a 6.5-magnitude earthquake in the same area at 8:48 a.m. may cause local tsunamis that could be destructive along coasts within a few hundred kilometers of the epicenter.

There is no tsunami threat to the Australian coastline, the Bureau of Meteorology said on its Web site.

The Solomon Islands archipelago, about 2,500 kilometers east of Australia, lies in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" and experiences frequent seismic tremors. About 50 people were killed and more than 5,000 left homeless there after an 8.1- magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami in April 2007.