A strong 7.0 earthquake struck near the Loyalty Islands in the Pacific a short time ago; however, there does not appear to be any tsunami threat from that earthquake around the Pacific, including to Hawaii, Alaska, and California, Oregon, and Washington.

According to the Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 7.0 magnitude event occurred roughly at 10:57 am Hawaii time / 4:57 pm ET.  The epicenter of the earthquake was located at 22.7 South, 170.2 East, which is just southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

“Based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii, ” the Tsunami Warning Center issued in a bulletin. They added, “There is no tsunami threat to Hawaii.”

The USGS updated the specifics of the earthquake after the Tsunami Warning Center issued their bulletin. USGS adjusted the event to a magnitude 6.7 event. According to USGS, the epicenter struck at a depth of 10 km. The earthquake struck in a very seismically active area between Australia and Hawaii.