A MAGNITUDE 6.6 earthquake has been recorded off the Santa Cruz Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The quake's epicenter was recorded by the US Geological Survey at a depth of 38km about 353km east of Kira Kira in the Solomon Islands at 3:07pm local time. No tsunami alert was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in the immediate wake of the quake. The Santa Cruz Islands form part of the Temotu Province of the Solomon Islands and lie approximately 400km to the southeast of the Solomons. Lata is the main town on the chain's largest island, which is Nendo.
