Magnitude from 6.0 to 7.3 – Major earthquakes near Solomon Islands – Tsunami warning lifted – News

  • Two major earthquakes occurred in quick succession near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific on Tuesday.
  • A tsunami warning lifted that US Seismological Survey (USGS) a few hours later.
  • There are no reports of casualties or major damage.
  • An earthquake in Indonesia claimed many lives on Monday.

The first tremor struck at a depth of 15 kilometers about 16 kilometers southwest of the Malango area, the USGS reported, initially putting it at a magnitude of 7.3. A second earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 shook the region about 30 minutes later.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s office had advised residents to move to higher ground immediately. The tsunami warning system in the USA initially warned of a tsunami. However, after a few hours the all-clear was given.

There were initially no reports of deaths or injuries or major destruction in the Solomon Islands, but local media said there was damage to buildings. Many people panicked and tried to get away from the coasts and to higher ground.

Legend:

A view of the capital Honiara after the earthquake.

Keystone/AP Photo/Charley Piringi

Malango is less than 40 kilometers southwest of the capital, Honiara. On the archipelago with 700,000 inhabitants there are mostly flat houses, which is good for earthquakes. The authorities advised the population to continue to be cautious even after the all-clear, as aftershocks are to be expected, as reported by the Solomon Times newspaper. In Honiara, the electricity was temporarily shut off to check for possible damage to the lines.

Severe earthquake on Java the day before

The Solomon Islands are made up of hundreds of islands and lie east of New Guinea. Surrounding island states include Tuvalu, Fiji and Vanuatu. More than 100 people were killed in an earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java on Monday.

Java: Huge damage and hundreds injured


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The day after the devastating earthquake on the Indonesian island of Java, the extent of the destruction is becoming increasingly clear. According to authorities, more than 100 people died as a result of the 5.6 magnitude tremor, and many are still missing. Hundreds more were injured, some seriously. Many houses collapsed and there were landslides. The number of victims could therefore continue to rise.

According to a spokesman for the city of Cianjur, dozens of children are among the dead. The epicenter of the quake was near Cianjur – on land, which explains the enormous damage. It was initially unclear whether there were still people buried under the rubble and masses of earth. About 300 people were very seriously injured, said Henri Alfiandi, head of the national emergency services. “These are people who are so injured that they cannot walk. But overall there are too many injuries to count,” he told reporters. The hospitals were completely overcrowded.

Both the Solomon Islands and Indonesia lie on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the most geologically active zone on earth. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common there.

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