A major quake of magnitude 7.1 struck the Solomon Islands on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It said the quake's epicenter was 32.2 miles (52 km) deep, 60 miles (97 km) southwest of the Solomon Islands' Kira Kira in the Pacific Ocean. It hit at 8:40 p.m. (0940 GMT), according to a report of Reuters. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 7.5, could "generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of the earthquake epicenter." A magnitude 7.1 quake can cause widespread, heavy damage.
