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The tsunami followed a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the western New Georgia Islands region, which had prompted the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre to issue a tsunami warning for countries in the region.

A spokesman for the Solomon Islands Office of Emergency management said there were unconfirmed reports five people were missing after two villages were inundated by the tsunami in the far west of the archipelago.

"We have unconfirmed reports of a tsunami washing parts of the most western end if the Solomons, where two villages ... near Bougainville are reported to be completely inundated," the spokesman told the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

He said there were also unconfirmed reports four people were missing after a landslide in the wake of the quake.

Solomons police spokesman Mick Spinks said there had been sketchy reports of damage caused by a tsunami in areas near the quake.

"There have been no reports of casualties yet but you have to bear in mind the communications with many areas is poor," Spinks said.

He said the town of Taro had been hit by a large wave and there had been reports of buildings being damaged. The settlement of Lofung had also reported being hit by a large wave with residents evacuating to higher ground, Spinks said.

In Gizo, a town just 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the quake epicentre, waves had caused damage after sweeping beyond the high water mark, he said.

The quake struck at 7:40 am local time and was centred about 350 kilometres (220 miles) west-northwest of the capital Honiara at a depth of 10 kilometres, the US Geological Survey and Hong Kong Observatory said.

The USGS also recorded an aftershock measuring 6.7 about eight minutes after the initial shock.

The Pacific nation, 2,575 kilometres east of Australia, has fewer than 500,000 people living on dozens of islands.

It is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates meet and frequently experiences volcanic and seismic activity.