Tsunami warning issued after 7.9 tremor struck Solomon Islands

New Delhi : A magnitude of 7.9 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands, raising a tsunami alert for surrounding islands in the South Pacific region.

The Center warned that hazardous tsunami waves up to one metre above tide level were 'possible' along the coasts of neighbouring islands. 

In the pacific Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands were listed as threatened coastal areas.

The entire south pacific including Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, Indonesia, Tonga, New Caledonia and a number of other surrounding islands are all on tsunami alert for waves less than 0.3 metres. 

The earthquake struck roughly 168 kilometres deep, near Bougaineville Island - which is located in between Papua New Guinea and mainland Solomon Islands.  

The Solomon Islands are in the 'Ring of Fire' - a horseshoe-shaped area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where roughly 90 per cent of the world's earthquakes occur.