This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/09/solomon-islands-shaken-by-second-earthquake-in-two-days

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Solomon Islands shaken by second earthquake in two days Solomon Islands shaken by second earthquake in two days
(about 1 hour later)
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake has struck off the Solomon Islands, one day after a major tremor, raising the threat of hazardous tsunami waves, officials said. A 6.9-magnitude earthquake has struck off the Solomon Islands, one day after a major tremor, raising the threat of hazardous tsunami waves, according to officials.
However, police in the nearest centre to the off-shore quake said there were no reports of fresh damage and residents did not flee their homes as they had the previous day.However, police in the nearest centre to the 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 6.10 am (19.10 GMT Friday), was located 90 KM (55 miles) west of Kirakira, a provincial capital in the Solomons, at a depth of 10 km, according to the US Geological Survey.The epicentre of the latest tremor, which hit at 6.10 am (19.10 GMT Friday), was located 90 KM (55 miles) west of Kirakira, a provincial capital in the Solomons, at a depth of 10 km, 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” 1-3 metres (3-10 feet) above tide level along some coasts of the Solomons. It warned of waves up to 0.3 metres along the coasts of Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had said there was no threat from the quake but later forecasted “hazardous tsunami waves” 1-3 metres (3-10 feet) above tide level along some coasts of the Solomons. It warned of waves up to 0.3 metres 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. The latest quake came as an aid agency reported that hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed in Friday’s 7.7 magnitude tremor.
“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.” Speaking from the capital Honiara, Suzy Sainovski, World Vision’s Pacific Timor-Leste spokeswoman, said it has been hard to get a full assessment from some more remote communities, many of which don’t have cellphone coverage.
USGS said there was low likelihood of casualties and damage from the quake. “There are some initial reports that 3,000 people have been affected,” Sainovski said. “Some of these are traditional houses that are on stilts, and made with vegetation.”
Friday’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.
The Solomon Islands are part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a zone of tectonic activity known for frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions.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.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.