Another Powerful Quake Strikes Solomon Islands

SEISMIC HAZARD
INTENSE SEISMICITY
.

M7.4 Strikes 111km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands

The quake was the second powerful quake occurring along the South Solomon Trench since 20:14UTC on Saturday, and the latest event in the ongoing episode of intense seismicity on or near the boundary between the Australia and Pacific plates.

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast

MEGA EARTHQUAKE COULD STRIKE SOLOMON ISLANDS

A  detailed FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast appeared in the Bulletin NO. 84, which was released on April 12.

The next FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast will be issued together with the April 13 Bulletin, later today.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 7.4Mw
Event Time:  12:36:18 UTC on 2014-04-13
Location:11.451°S 162.069°E depth=35.0km (21.7mi)
Nearby Cities

• 111km (69mi) S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands
• 321km (199mi) SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands

Source: USGS/EHP

 

Tsunami Evaluation

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 13:18UTC 13 APR 2014

It is not known that a tsunami was generated. This warning is based only on the earthquake evaluation. An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours.  Authorities in the region should take appropriate action in response to this possibility. This center will continue to monitor sea level gauges nearest the region and report if any tsunami wave activity is observed. The warning will not expand to other areas of the Pacific unless additional data are received to warrant such an expansion.

Estimated initial tsunami wave arrival times at forecast points within the warning and watch areas are given below. Actual arrival times may differ and the initial wave may not be the largest. a tsunami is a series of waves and the time between successive waves can be five minutes to one hour.

 LOCATION         FORECAST POINT     COORDINATES     ARRIVAL TIME
 --------------------------------    ------------    ------------
 SOLOMON ISLANDS  KIRAKIRA           10.4S 161.9E    1258Z 13 APR
                  SANTA_CRUZ_ISLA    10.9S 165.9E    1314Z 13 APR
                  AUKI                8.8S 160.6E    1318Z 13 APR
                  HONIARA             9.3S 160.0E    1324Z 13 APR
                  MUNDA               8.4S 157.2E    1336Z 13 APR
                  GHATERE             7.8S 159.2E    1341Z 13 APR
                  FALAMAE             7.4S 155.6E    1355Z 13 APR
                  PANGGOE             6.9S 157.2E    1359Z 13 APR
 VANUATU          ESPERITU_SANTO     15.1S 167.3E    1341Z 13 APR
 PAPUA NEW GUINE  WOODLARK_ISLAND     9.0S 152.9E    1408Z 13 APR
                  AMUN                6.0S 154.7E    1409Z 13 APR
                  KIETA               6.1S 155.6E    1418Z 13 APR

Related Links

• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Solomon Islands April 13, 2014
• FIRE-EARTH Bulletin NO. 84 April 12, 2014
• M7.1 EQ Strikes Near Panguna, PNG April 11, 2014
• M6.5 Quake Strikes PNG April 12, 2014

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Solomon Islands

SEISMIC HAZARD
.

M7.6 – 100km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands

Centered at 11.315°S, 162.211°E the quake struck at a depth of about 29.3km (18.2mi), said USGS/EHP.

The powerful shock occurred along the South Solomon Trench and was the latest event in an episode of intense seismicity on or near the boundary between the Australia and Pacific plates.

The earthquake was downgraded from an initial magnitude 7.8 to 7.6Mw

The quake was followed by about a dozen significant aftershocks, as of posting.

Tsunami Evaluation

Initially, the PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER (PTWC) issued an expanding tsunami warning and watch for parts of the pacific located close to the earthquake.

In a latest bulletin, ISSUED AT 21:36UTC on 12 APR 2014, PTWC said:

SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. IT MAY HAVE BEEN DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. FOR THOSE AREAS – WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED. DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

Earthquake Details
Magnitude: 7.6Mw
Event Time: 20:14:39 UTC on 2014-04-12
Location:11.315°S 162.211°E depth=29.3km (18.2mi)
Nearby Cities:

• 100km (62mi) SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands
• 323km (201mi) SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands

Earthquake Location Maps

Source: USGS/EHP

Source: USGS/EHP

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast

A  FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast appeared in the April 12 Bulletin, which was released on April 12.

The next FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecast will be issued together with the April 13 Bulletin, later today.

Related Links

• FIRE-EARTH Bulletin NO. 84 April 12, 2014
• M7.1 EQ Strikes Near Panguna, PNG April 11, 2014
• M6.5 Quake Strikes PNG April 12, 2014

M6.9 Quake Strikes Solomon Islands

Strong Quake Strikes W of Kira Kira, San Cristobal, Solomon Islands

Tsunami NOT expected, based on the available data.
There were no reports of damage, or casualties as of posting.

10-degree Map Centered at 10°S,160°E

EQ Location Map. Image enhanced by FIRE-EARTH

Event Location Map. NOAA

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude: 6.9
• Date-Time: Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 04:16:55 UTC [Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 03:16:55 PM at epicenter]
• Location: 10.349°S, 161.233°E
• Depth: 81.6 km (50.7 miles)
• Region: SOLOMON ISLANDS
• Distances:
• 76 km (47 miles) W of Kira Kira, San Cristobal, Solomon Isl.
• 173 km (107 miles) SE of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
• 184 km (114 miles) SSE of Auki, Malaita, Solomon Islands
• 2084 km (1294 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 14.4 km (8.9 miles); depth +/- 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: usc0002xcx

Related Links

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

7.1Mw Quake Strikes Solomon Islands

Powerful 7.1Mw Earthquake strikes Solomon Islands 94 km (58 miles) WSW of Kira Kira

The earthquake occurred on Sunday April 11, at 09:40:31UTC striking at a depth of about 60km. The epicenter was located at 10.90ºS ; 161.16ºE.

A larger earthquake may strike the region.

Summary of Earthquake Details:

• Magnitude: 7.1Mw
• Region: SOLOMON ISLANDS
• Date time: 2010-04-11 at 09:40:31.0UTC
• Location: 10.90ºS ; 161.16ºE
• Depth 60 km (+/- 15 km)
• Distances:
  • 1538 km E Port moresby (pop 283,733 ; local time 19:40 2010-04-11)
  • 213 km SE Honiara (pop 56,298 ; local time 20:40 2010-04-11)
  • 94 km SW Kira kira (pop 1,122 ; local time 20:40 2010-04-11)
• Source:  European-Mediterranean Seismological Center

Earthquake Location Map. Click image to enlarge.

Tsunami Evaluation:
A destructive pacific-wide tsunami is not expected. However, local tsunami may occur. “Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometers of the earthquake epicenter. Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.” PTWC said.

Related Links:

• Strong Earthquake Strikes Vanuatu
• Powerful Aftershocks Still Striking Solomon Isles
• Powerful Earthquakes Strike Solomon Islands
• Solomon Isles Tsunami Destroyed Several Villages
• Large Earthquakes Strike South Pacific

• Magnitude 8.3 Quake Strikes Samoa Islands Region

• FEWW Earthquake Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links

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