Powerful Earthquakes Strike Solomon Islands

Two Powerful Quakes Strike Solomon Islands SSE of Gizo

A powerful earthquake Measuring up to 7.5Mw struck 105 km (65 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl. at a depth of about  45 km on  January 3 at about 22:37 UTC.  A strong foreshock measuring up to M6.8, preceded  the Mainshock about an hour earlier.

As of posting, at least one aftershock measuring up to 5.4 Mw was reported.

10-degree Map Centered at 10°S,155°E

Earthquake location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW.

Earthquake Details (mainshock)

• Magnitude:  [Maximum EQ magnitude estimated at 7.5 Mw by FireEarth]
• Date-Time:
  • Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 22:36:30 UTC
  • Monday, January 04, 2010 at 09:36:30 AM at epicenter
• Location 8.912°S, 157.307°E
• Depth 30.5 km (19.0 miles)
• Region SOLOMON ISLANDS
• Distances:
  • 105 km (65 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.
  • 210 km (130 miles) WSW of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands
  • 295 km (185 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • 2100 km (1310 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 8.5 km (5.3 miles); depth +/- 3.6 km (2.2 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID:us2010rabw

Earthquake Details (foreshock)

• Magnitude 6.5  [Maximum EQ magnitude estimated at 6.8  Mw by FireEarth]
• Date-Time:
  • Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 21:48:06 UTC
• Location:  8.880°S, 157.325°E
• Depth 10 km (6.2 miles)
• Distances
  • 90 km (55 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.
  • 215 km (135 miles) WSW of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands
  • 310 km (190 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • 2115 km (1310 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 10.1 km (6.3 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2010rabr

Historic Seismicity

Tsunami Warning

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii earlier said the earthquakes generated  a 6cm (NON-Destructve) tsunami.

“[The tsunami] may have been destructive along the coasts near the earthquake epicentre.” It said.

NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami was NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast.  However, local tsunamis may occur from underwater landslides at coastal locations which have experienced strong ground shaking.

An 8.1Mw quake struck about 60km NW of this earthquake on April 1, 2007, triggering  a tsunami near Solomon Islands which crashed into the town of Gizo the capital of the Solomon Islands Western Province (population 6,500),  killing 52 people (official death toll) and destroying almost the entire town. More than 5,400 people were left homeless.

In Tajikistan meanwhile…

News agencies reported that a 5.5Mw earthquake which struck Tajikistan on Saturday had destroyed more than 1,000 houses. There were no reports of human casualties as of posting.

Related Links:

• Large Earthquakes Strike South Pacific
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [26 Oct 2009] – Includes Forecast

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links