Magnitude 5.6 earthquake hits Solomon Islands: Third quake in less than 24 hours recorded off Australia's coast

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Solomon Islands, making it the third quake recorded off Australia's coast in less than 24 hours.

The tremor was at a depth of 60km and the epicentre was at a distance 79km south of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. 

The Bureau of Meteorology has said there is no tsunami threat to Australia. 

This comes after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake shook Tonga around 9.30am local time. 

The quake was at a depth of 112km and the epicenter was at a distance of 70km northwest of Fangale'ounga, Ha'apai on Foa Island, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. 

Tongan officials urged people to 'evacuate immediately inland' and tsunami sirens  sounded on the island until the threat passed on Monday afternoon. 

Vanuatu was also rocked by a 6.4 magnitude quake around 9.30am local time on Sunday. 

The undersea quake occurred north of Port Villa, Vanuatu's capital, about 9.23am local time at a depth of 32km, the government-run Geoscience Australia portal states. 

Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands all sit on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where much of the world's earthquake and volcanic activity occurs. 

More to come.