Another strong earthquake rocked the Solomon Islands

News Hour:

The Pacific is again on high alert for Tsunami waves after another strong earthquake rocked the Solomon Islands on Saturday.

A strong 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 100 kilometres west of Peka Island in the Solomons at 0610 AEDT at a depth of 88 kilometers, Geoscience Australia said in a statement, reports BSS.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake’s epicentre was 90 kilometres west of provincial capital Kirakira, measuring a 6.9-magnitude shock at a depth of 10 kilometres.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a Tsunami alert warning “hazardous tsunami waves” between one to three meters above high tide along the coastline, while waves up to 0.3 meters were forecasted for the wider Pacific islands. By 0850 local time (AEDT), that threat had passed.

“Minor sea level fluctuations of up to 0.3 meters above and below the normal tide may continue over the next few hours for coasts near the epicenter,” the center said in its final warning bulletin.

The Pacific was on high alert for a Tsunami on Friday after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in the same area, causing widespread damage on the island of Makira.

The Australian government said they are ready to provide assistance through their pre-positioned supplies should they be requested.

Earthquakes are common for the Pacific Islands which boarder the 4,000- kilometre-long Pacific Australia plate to form part of the “Ring of Fire,” a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

This article has been posted by a News Hour Correspondent. For queries, please contact through [email protected]
No Comments