Authorities in the Solomon Islands said no tsunami warning would be issued after two earthquakes struck off the southwest coast.
The US Geological Survey issued a tsunami warning after the first 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday, but that warning was withdrawn soon after.
A second earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.0, occurred about 30 minutes later.
The Solomon Islands prime minister’s office reported no major damage to buildings in the capital Honiara, but power was out in some areas of the city.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the roof of the Australian high commission in Honiara had collapsed, “which points to potential damage across the city”.
Albanese said all staff at the Australian high commission were safe and had moved to higher ground due to earlier concerns about a tsunami.
Albanese said the high commission was seeking to confirm the safety of all Australians in the Solomon Islands, but this was difficult because telecommunications had been disrupted.
He said Australia had placed a representative at the national disaster response center to help with the initial response, adding: “We have reached out to Prime Minister Sogavare to once again indicate Australia’s readiness to assist “.
Solomon Islands Broadcasting said in a statement on Facebook that all radio services were off the air.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service said there was no tsunami threat in the country, but warned of unusual sea currents in coastal areas.
“People are also advised to be alert as aftershocks are expected to continue,” an employee said on social media.
The quake near Malango was shallow, with a depth of 10 km, the USGS said.
People reported violent shaking that threw televisions and other objects to the ground.
Freelance journalist Charley Piringi said he was outside a warehouse next to a primary and secondary school on the outskirts of the capital, Honiara, when the quake struck and sent children running.
“The earthquake shook the place,” he said. “It was a big one. We were all shocked and everyone is running around.”
The nation’s attorney general, John Muria, posted images on social media of office files spilling out of large metal filing cabinets.
“This was a big one,” Joy Nisha, a receptionist at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara, told AFP news agency. “Some of the stuff in the hotel fell over. Everyone seems fine, but they’re panicking.”
An AFP reporter in the capital said the tremor lasted about 20 seconds.
Power had been cut in some areas of the city and people were leaving their offices and fleeing to higher ground.