21 Jan 2003

Solomon Islands hit by quake

11:38 am on 21 January 2003

There have been no immediate reports of damage or injury after a strong earthquake shook Solomons Islands last night.

The quake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter Scale, hit just before ten o'clock last night.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii initially issued a tsunami watch for the region, but later withdrew it.

However, the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation says contact with people on at least one island was lost after high waves forced villagers to move to higher ground.

The corporation's managing director, Johnson Honimae, says the police have not been able to raise stations on other islands either.

"Unfortunately local police here in the capital Honiara hasn't been able to raise other stations where they know they have wireless especially in small Malita, so there has been no reports of damage."

Johnson Honimae.