Tsunami warning issued for South Pacific islands
SYDNEY (AP) - The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a South Pacific earthquake generated a tsunami that may be destructive near the epicenter.
It says sea level readings indicate a tsunami formed after the 8.0 earthquake Wednesday near the Solomon Islands. More distant coasts may be threatened.
The tsunami warning is in effect for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, New Caledonia, Kosrae, Fiji, Kiribati, Wallis and Futuna. A tsunami watch is in effect for American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Indonesia.