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Magnitude 8.1 - SOLOMON ISLANDS

2007 April 01 20:39:56 UTC

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Earthquake Details

Magnitude8.1
Date-Time
Location 8.481°S, 156.978°E
Depth10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
RegionSOLOMON ISLANDS
Distances45 km (25 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.
205 km (125 miles) SSE of Chirovanga, Choiseul, Solomon Islands
340 km (215 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
2145 km (1330 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
Location Uncertaintyhorizontal +/- 8.8 km (5.5 miles); depth fixed by location program
ParametersNST=156, Nph=156, Dmin=343 km, Rmss=1.19 sec, Gp= 32°,
M-type=moment magnitude (Mw), Version=8
Source
  • USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event IDus2007aqbk
  • This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
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Earthquake Summary

Small globe showing earthquakeSmall map showing earthquake

Earthquake Summary Poster

  • The following is a revised REPEAT revised release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred about 40 km (25 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Islands or about 345 km (215 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal at 2:39 PM MDT, Apr 1, 2007 (Apr 02 at 7:39 AM local time in Solomon Islands). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. Detailed information about tsunami watches and warnings is available from the NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers at http://tsunami.gov.

  • Felt Reports

    At least 40 people killed, an undetermined number missing and several villages destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. About 300 homes, schools and a hospital were destroyed at Sasamunga and about 500 houses were damaged at Gizo. Tsunami damage also occurred on Lefung and Taro. Two people were killed by landslides on Ranongga, where uplift was also observed. Felt at Honiara. A 2 meter wave was measured on Woodlark Island, Papua New Guinea, where 17 houses were destroyed and a church was damaged. The tsunami also caused damage on Rossel Island and Bougainville.

    Tectonic Summary

    The Solomon Islands earthquake of April 1, 2007, occurred along the boundary of the Pacific plate with, respectively, the Australia, Woodlark, and Solomon Sea plates. The latter three plates converge to the east-northeast or northeast against the Pacific plate with velocities of 90-105 mm/y. Along much of the plate boundary between the Pacific plate and the Australia/Woodlark/Solomon Sea plates, relative plate-motion is accomplished principally by subduction of the Australia/Woodlark/Solomon Sea plates beneath the Pacific plate. The April 1 earthquake's location and focal mechanism are consistent with the earthquake having occurred as underthrusting of the Australia/Woodlark/Solomon Sea plate beneath the Pacific plate, as part of the broader northeast-directed subduction process.

    The Solomon Islands arc as a whole experiences a very high level of earthquake activity, and many shocks of magnitude 7 and larger have been recorded since the early decades of the twentieth century. The April 1 earthquake, however, nucleated in a 250km-long segment of the arc that had produced no shocks of magnitude 7 or larger since the early 20th century

    Preliminary Analysis of the April 2007 Solomon Islands Tsunami, Southwest Pacific Ocean

    Tsunami Information Tsunami Information