An aftershock has hit the Solomon Islands following a powerful earthquake measuring 8.0 magnitude. Relief efforts have been hampered add a result of the shock in tsunami-ravaged villages.
The Soloman Islands has experienced a strong aftershock, affecting relief efforts, following Wednesday's earthquake.
The South Pacific nation's Prime Minister was forced to abandon a visit to the area, where nine deaths have been confirmed.
The 6.6-magnitude aftershock damaged roads and prevented aid workers from reaching the coast.
Read: 8.0 magnitude earthquake strikes off the South Pacific
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has cancelled tsunami warnings and watches covering large areas of the South Pacific after a strong earthquake near the Solomon Islands.
Tsunami Warning and Watch CANCELED for all areas http://t.co/s3eCxNvz
From @NWS_PTWC on Twitter:Earlier, the centre reported that a small tsunami was generated near the epicentre of the 8.0 magnitude quake.
"No tsunami threat exists for other coastal areas although some may experience small sea level changes," it said.
Contrary to earlier reports that Hawaii was under threat of a tsunami after an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in the region, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has tweeted:
Hawaii is NOT in a tsunami watch. There is NO tsunami danger to Hawaii resulting from the Santa Cruz Islands earthquake.
From @NWS_PTWC on Twitter:The South Pacific French territory of New Caledonia has warned that a tsunami could hit its eastern coastline following a strong earthquake in the neighbouring Solomon Islands.
Residents near the coast were being advised to evacuate immediately with the tsunami forecast to reach shores around 0300 GMT, according to the French High Commission.
A tsunami generated by a major 8.0 magnitude undersea earthquake off the Solomon Islands had the potential to be destructive near the epicentre and could pose a threat to more distant coastlines, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has said.
The centre did not say how big the tsunami was, but it gave arrival times from a few minutes to several hours to island nations around the South Pacific.
– Spokesman for the Pacific Tsunami Warning CentreWhen no major waves are observed for two hours after the estimated time of arrival or damaging waves have not occurred for at least two hours then local authorities can assume the threat is passed.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has issued a tsunami warning for the South Pacific Islands, after an earthquake measuring 8.0 magnitude struck off the Solomon Islands.
The centre said the tsunami warning is in effect for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futuna.
An earthquake measuring 8.0 magnitude has struck off the Solomon Islands, the US Geological Survey has said.
The quake was a shallow 5.8 km (3.6 miles) deep and the epicentre was 347 km east of Kira Kira in the Solomon Islands.
A tsunami warning has been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii.
An earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude struck southeast of the Solomon Islands on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey has reported.
The shallow quake was only 15 km (nine miles) deep and the epicentre was 330 km east-southeast of Kira Kira in the Solomon Islands.
No immediate tsunami warning issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii.