Powerful earthquake hits Pacific

An extremely powerful earthquake has rocked the Pacific near the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

The earthquake, estimated by monitors to have a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, was one of the largest to hit the region in several years.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake struck 33 kilometres (20 miles) beneath the earth's surface, 197 km (122 miles) from Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.

Despite the strength of the quake, there were no reports of damage or injury in either the Solomon Islands or PNG.

Parts of the Solomon Island archipelago are still recovering from a devastating cyclone that swept through the region in December.

Residents in the Solomons' capital, Honiara, said the minute-long quake shook the buildings, but there was no greater impact.

An Australian staying in Honiara told the French news agency AFP: "It's the strongest (quake) I have ever felt and it made a lot of noise."

"I went down outside and found the local people completely unconcerned by it," he said.