Hawaii tsunami 'mostly a marine threat now'

A tsunami threat to the island chain of Hawaii has been downgraded, after high waves failed to materialise.

The warning was issued after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of Canada. Wave heights of three to six feet had been predicted in some areas.

The director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, Dr Charles McCreery, said that strong currents still posed a hazard to swimmers but that buildings near the coast were no longer at risk.