Solomon Islands shaken by earthquake

NZME.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake has rocked the Solomon Islands. Photo / File
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake has rocked the Solomon Islands. Photo / File

Seismologists have downgraded a strong quake that rocked the Solomon Islands in the Pacific this morning.

The United States Geological Survey initially measured the 5km-deep quake, which struck at 6.49am NZT, as a magnitude 6.8 tremor.

However, it was downgraded a short time later to magnitude 6.4.

The quake struck about 221km west of the capital Honiara.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said that based on available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected.

The quake was the second large tremor in the region this week.

On Monday afternoon NZT, a magnitude 6.6 quake struck in the same area at a depth of 15km.