Severe 7.9m quake hits off Papua New Guinea
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake has struck between the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, the United States Geological Survey reports.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has warned a "widespread tsunami" is possible due to the quake, according to Reuters.
New Zealand Civil Defence took to Twiiter to say there is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the quake.
There is no tsunami threat to New Zealand following the 7.9M Solomon Islands earthquake at 1730 NZ time.
— MCDEM (@NZcivildefence) January 22, 2017
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre says there is no threat to Australia.
The USGS says the quake had a depth of more than 150km and it struck 47km west of Arawa on Paupa New Guinea's Bougainville island.
There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
Bougainville and the nearby Solomon Islands are in the Pacific's geologically active "Ring of Fire".
The quake was initially recorded at 8.0m.