Tsunami alert for Qld coast after Solomons earthquake

A tsunami alert has been issued for the far north-east coast of Queensland after a earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the Solomon Islands this morning.


The Bureau of Meterology says there is a possible tsunami threat to Willis and Barrier Reef islands.


It is believed the tsunami could start affecting Cooktown from 9:30am local time. It could then hit Cairns, Gladstone and Mackay 11.40am.


The US Geological Survey says the quake's epicentre was located 45 kilometres south of the New Georgia Islands, around 350 kilometres west-north-west of the capital Honiara, at a depth of 10 kilometres.


Ada Akao from the Australian High Commission in Honiara says she felt rumblings from the earthquake this morning but believes no buildings in the city have been damaged by the tremor.


"We felt an earthquake this morning," she confirmed.


"It lasted ... let's say two minutes. Not much damage here. We felt a gentle rock. Nothing bad happened."


However, a journalist at the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation in Honiara told ABC Newsradio that early reports from the island of Simbo spoke of damage to houses and waves travelling 200 metres inland.


Solomons police say there have been no reports of fatalities but they have confirmed some tidal damage to property on the islands of Gizo, Lefung and Taro.


Emergency crews will travel to the islands to assess the damage and help those affected.


The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii has also issued a warning based only on the size of the quake.


"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicentre within minutes to hours," the centre said.


The centre said it had no confirmed information a tsunami was generated but said authorities should take appropriate action in response to the possibility.


Any quake of a magnitude greater than six can trigger a tsunami.

Cairns weather bureau


The Cairns weather bureau says it is not yet known whether a tsunami has been generated or how big it could be.


Duty forecaster Leo Farrell says the bureau is still trying to detect whether a wave has been generated but it could start affecting the Cooktown region, north of Cairns, at about 9:30am.


"It's not known whether one was actually generated," Mr Farrell said.


"It needs to go near some guages before we can pick it up or before it can be picked up but there's certainly some estimated arrival times.


"The Cairns area it's estimated to arrive around about ten to ten this morning."


Authorities in Cooktown are in emergency talks with officials at Brisbane's Emergency Management Centre about preparations for a possible tsunami.


Cook Shire Mayor Bob Sullivan says he is yet to receive details of what to expect and when to expect it by.


He admits locals are nervous.


"Pretty pretty disturbed actually these things you don't want these things to to our community and we're just waiting to see what the effects may or may not be," Cr Sullivan.


"It's still early days."


The Queensland indigenous community of Hopevale just north of Cooktown is warning residents to get off the beach.


Hopevale's Mayor Greg Mclean is in Cairns and says he has been phoning residents to tell everyone to evacuate to higher land.


He says it is very hard to get the message out as he has been unable to contact police.