VANCOUVER — British Columbia is monitoring the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the South Pacific because quakes of its size are known to generate tsunamis.
The United States Geological Survey says a 7.7 magnitude tremor hit near the Solomon Islands, about 175 kilometres northeast of Australia, around 9:30 a.m. PST.
Emergency Management B.C. says quakes of this size are known to generate tsunamis far from the source region.
The agency says it is monitoring the situation but has not issued a tsunami warning.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami watch for Hawaii.
The warning centre says a tsunami is possible but not verified.
A watch is the lowest level of alert.
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