A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no immediate tsunami warning issued.

The tremor, at a depth of 72 kilometres (45 miles), hit at 4.16 am local time (17:16 GMT Thursday) 81 km south of the town of Panguna in Papua New Guinea.

The USGS issued a "green alert", to say there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

In February the remote town of Lata was hit by a devastating tsunami after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake. The tsunami left at least 10 people dead, destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands of people homeless.

The Solomons are part of the "Ring of Fire", a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific that is subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In 2007 a tsunami following an 8.0-magnitude earthquake killed at least 52 people in the Solomons and left thousands homeless.