PNG not expecting devastation after quake

Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands authorities are on a tsunami warning but are not expecting any of the devastation experienced in Japan after an 8.9 earthquake.

Lote Yates from the Solomons Disaster Centre told AAP it was only expecting some waves.

"As a precaution we've activated our warning system to numerous remote costal villagers and outer islands," he said.

"We are expecting some waves around 11pm (10pm AEDT)."

An Australian government source in PNG's capital Port Moresby told AAP they were liaising closely with relevant PNG bodies.

"If anything hits it will be the northern coast at around 9pm-10pm. But it's a big if," she said.