Strong 6.8-magnitude quake strikes off Solomon Islands: USGS

Sydney, May 23: A strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands early on Saturday, US geologists said, the third major tremor to hit in three days, but there were no initial reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), 205 kilometres from Kirakira and 448 kilometres from the capital Honiara.

It is the third day in a row that the Solomons have been rocked by a quake of 6.0-magnitude or higher.

A 6.0 magnitude quake struck the islands early Friday, and a 6.9 magnitude tremor the day before. No major damage was caused by the earlier tremors.

The Solomons are part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a zone of tectonic activity known for its frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In 2013, the Solomons were hit by a tsunami after an 8.0-magnitude quake, leaving at least 10 people dead and thousands homeless after buildings were destroyed.

PTI