Solomon Islands shaken by second earthquake in two days – with tremors felt across the Pacific
The 6.9 magnitude tremor was felt as far as Australia
A SECOND massive earthquake has struck off the Solomon Islands just one day after a major tremor, raising the threat of hazardous tsunami waves hitting the country.
However, police in the nearest centre to the 6.9 magnitude off-shore quake said there were no reports of fresh damage and residents did not flee their homes as they had the previous day.
The epicentre of the latest tremor, which hit at 6.10am local time on Friday (7.10pm GMT), was located 55 miles west of Kirakira, a provincial capital in the Solomons, according to the US Geological Survey.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had said there was no threat from the quake but later forecasted “hazardous tsunami waves” 3-10 feet above tide level along some coasts of the Solomons.
It warned of waves up to a foot along the coasts of Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Donald Tehimae, the duty officer at the Kirakira police station, said there was no immediate sign the fresh tremor had any serious impact.
“Everything is okay,” he said. “Yesterday, everyone evacuated to the highlands but after the cancellation of the tsunami warning we all came back. This time we all stayed here.”
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USGS said there was low likelihood of casualties and damage from the quake.
Thursday’s major 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the archipelago, triggering severe shaking and a tsunami warning, but there were no reports of any serious damage.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake occurred 45 miles west of Kirakira at around 5.40pm UK time, and in the early hours of Friday morning local time.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center measured waves of up to 12cm about 30 minutes after the quake struck, resulting in the all clear being given.
The National Weather Service said earthquakes of this size are known to generate potentially dangerous tsunamis.
Minutes after the initial earthquake, a 5.5-magnitude aftershock hit the region. The main quake was 25 miles (40km) deep - deeper quakes are considered less dangerous.
The Solomon Islands are part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a zone of tectonic activity known for frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions.
In 2007, an 8.0-magnitude quake in the Solomon Islands claimed 52 lives and left thousands homeless, when it created a 10-metre tsunami.
Resident Tali Hong said tremors from the quake were the most powerful she had ever experienced.
She told NBC: "The earthquake was one of the biggest and longest I have ever felt.
"I was born here in Honiara and lived here most of my life.
"I'm located in central Honiara, in one of the big urban areas. Just checked with my neighbors and surrounding area; there is not visible damage. However, we have no electricity at the moment."
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