SYDNEY: The Solomon Islands were rattled by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on Saturday, just a day after hundreds of people along the coast fled into the hills following a 7.8 magnitude tremor.

The latest quake initially triggered a fresh tsunami warning for the Solomon Islands, but that was lifted by authorities a short time later. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) said the threat had largely passed and only small waves were recorded along the coastline.

“Based on all available data, the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed,” the PTWC said in an alert after the quake 89 km west of Kira Kira, which the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported was 10 km deep.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2016