Hawaii County Civil Defense message
HONOLULU, Hawaii – A magnitude 7.6 earthquake off the Solomon Islands – initially recorded as a magnitude 8.3 but then downgraded – does not pose a tsunami threat to Hawaii, according to Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
“Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii,” stated the PTWC Saturday morning.
A local tsunami warning was issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
It is not known that a tsunami was generated. This warning is based only on the earthquake evaluation. An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours. Authorities in the region should take appropriate action in response to this possibility. This center will continue to monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed. The warning will not expand to other areas of the pacific unless additional data are received to warrant such an expansion.Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
