The tsunami bulletin was issued for the Santa Cruz Islands in the Solomon Islands province of Temotu after the earthquake struck 22 miles below the Pacific Ocean, 275 miles east-southeast of Kira Kira, Solomon Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Seismic data collected from the earthquake indicated it "may be the kind of earthquake that ruptures more slowly and has an increased potential to generate tsunami waves that could be damaging near the epicenter," the tsunami bulletin said.

No information on damage resulting from the quake was available Sunday.