List of earthquakes in the Solomon Islands archipelago explained

This is a list of earthquakes in the Solomon Islands archipelago, which includes the nation state of Solomon Islands and Bougainville within Papua New Guinea. Only earthquakes over magnitude 8 are included unless they result in damage and/or casualties. Earthquakes from other regions that were strongly felt in the area are also be included.

Background

The Australian Woodlark, Solomon Sea and Pacific Plates are converging at a rate of 97 mm/yr.[1] The earthquake was a result of interaction between the Australian and Pacific Plates along a subduction zone. Subduction of the Australian Plate has also given rise to volcanoes in the region. This region of the world lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 90 percent of all earthquake and volcanic activity is concentrated here.[2]

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe walls and informal construction.[3]

List of earthquakes

DateRegionMMIDeathsInjuriesCommentsRef
2022-11-22Guadalcanal7.0 VII4Moderate damage[4] [5]
2021-10-15Rendova6.4 VI1Moderate damage[6] [7] [8]
2017-01-22Bougainville7.9 IX32Damage/power outages[9] [10]
2016-12-17Bougainville7.9 VIIIPower outages[11]
2016-12-08Makira7.8 VIII1Major damage/tsunami[12] [13]
2014-04-11Bougainville7.1 VII1Major damage[14] [15]
2013-02-06Nendö8.0 VIII1417Major damage/tsunami[16] [17]
2012-07-25Guadalcanal6.4 VIISevere damage[18]
2010-01-03Rendova7.1 VISeveralMajor damage/tsunami[19]
2007-04-01Ghizo8.1 VIII112Major damage/tsunami[20] [21]
1997-04-21Torba7.7 VIITsunami[22]
1996-04-29Bougainville7.2 VIII1Moderate damage[23]
1995-08-16Bougainville7.7 VIIMinor damage/landslides[24]
1988-08-10Makira7.6 VII1Tsunami[25]
1984-02-07Guadalcanal7.6 VIIIMinor damage/Landslides[26]
1983-03-18New Britain7.6 VIIModerate damage/landslides[27]
1977-04-20Guadalcanal6.7 VII34Major damage/tsunami[28] [29]
1977-04-21Guadalcanal7.5 VII181Major damage[30] [31]
1975-07-20Bougainville7.9 VIIIMajor damage/tsunami[32]
1975-02-04Bougainville7.1 IXMinor damage/tsunami[33]
1971-07-26New Ireland8.1 VI35Moderate damage/tsunami[34] [35]
1971-07-148.0 IX[36]
1959-08-17Rendova7.0 VIMajor damage[37]
1939-04-30Guadalcanal7.8 VII12Moderate damage/tsunami[38] [39]
1939-01-30Bougainville7.8 VII5101Moderate damage[40] [41]
1931-10-03Makira7.9 VI50Major damage/tsunami[42] [43]
1919-05-06Bougainville7.8 VIIMinor damage[44] [45]
Note: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

Notes and References

  1. Kaustubh Thirumalai, Frederick W. Taylor, Chuan-Chou Shen, Luc L. Lavier, Cliff Frohlich, Laura M. Wallace, Chung-Che Wu, Hailong Sun & Alison K. Papabatu. 30 June 2015. Variable Holocene deformation above a shallow subduction zone extremely close to the trench. Nature Communications. 6. 7607. 10.1038/ncomms8607. 26123872 . 4491809 . 2015NatCo...6.7607T. 8275538. free.
  2. News: Hanna, O'Sullivan. Jason, Donnie. 8 December 2016. Solomon Islands tsunami threat over after 7.8 quake. CNN. 1 December 2020.
  3. Web site: PAGER. 6 November 2022. US Geological Survey.
  4. Web site: 2022-11-22 . M 7.0 - 18 km SW of Malango, Solomon Islands . 2022-11-22 . earthquake.usgs.gov.
  5. Web site: Government. Solomon Islands. 23 November 2022. ISO confirms no Significant Damage. Einnews.com.
  6. Web site: M 6.4 - 146 km WSW of Buala, Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. earthquake.usgs.gov.
  7. Web site: Pacific. Loop. 2021-10-15 . Houses collapse following 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Solomons. 2021-10-19. Loop PNG. en.
  8. Web site: 2021-10-15 . Houses collapse following 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Solomons. 2022-07-18. Adventist World. en.
  9. Web site: M 7.9 - 35km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea . earthquake.usgs.gov . USGS . 13 May 2021.
  10. Web site: Aloysius Laukai. 240117QUAKE HITS BOUGAINVILLE. NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE. 27 January 2017. 24 January 2017.
  11. Web site: M 7.9 - 54km E of Taron, Papua New Guinea. earthquake.usgs.gov. 15 December 2021.
  12. Web site: M 7.8 – 69km WSW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands. 1 December 2020. US Geological Survey.
  13. Web site: Solomon Islands: Earthquake – Dec 2016. 1 December 2020.
  14. Web site: M7.1 - 56km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. April 11, 2014. April 11, 2014.
  15. News: Authorities assess earthquake damage in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. ABC News . 2014-04-14.
  16. Web site: M 8.0 - 75 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. February 6, 2013. February 6, 2013.
  17. News: Fairfax New Zealand Limited. 2013-02-07. Airport damage hits Solomons quake cleanup. Nicole Pryor And Agencies. 2013-02-07.
  18. Web site: M 6.4 - 1 km E of Malango, Solomon Islands. earthquake.usgs.gov. USGS. 21 March 2021. 25 July 2012.
  19. Web site: M 7.1 - 94 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands. earthquake.usgs.gov. USGS. 26 June 2021. 3 January 2010.
  20. Web site: M 8.1 - 45 km SSE of Gizo, Solomon Islands. earthquake.usgs.gov. USGS. 26 June 2021. 3 January 2010.
  21. News: Report: Tsunami leaves thousands homeless in the hills. News Limited. 2 April 2007. 3 April 2007. 4 September 2012. https://archive.today/20120904042705/www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21492663-2,00.html. dead.
  22. Web site: M 7.7 - Santa Cruz Islands. USGS. United States Geological Survey.
  23. Web site: M 7.2 - 58 km WSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea.
  24. Web site: M 7.7 - Panguna, Papua New Guinea.
  25. Web site: M 7.6 - Solomon Islands.
  26. Web site: M 7.6 - Solomon Islands.
  27. Web site: M 7.6 - 157 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. July 10, 2021. March 18, 1983.
  28. Web site: M 6.7 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. June 8, 2021. April 20, 1977.
  29. Web site: Significant Earthquake: SOLOMON ISLANDS. National Geophysical Data Center. June 8, 2021. April 20, 1977.
  30. Web site: M 7.5 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. June 8, 2021. April 21, 1977.
  31. Web site: Significant Earthquake: SOLOMON ISLANDS. National Geophysical Data Center. June 8, 2021. April 21, 1977.
  32. Web site: M 7.9 - Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. August 3, 2017. July 20, 1975.
  33. Web site: M 7.1 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. July 28, 2017 . February 1, 1974.
  34. Web site: M 8.1 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. July 4, 2017 . July 26, 1971.
  35. Web site: Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NEW IRELAND: BOUGAINVILLE. National Geophysical Data Center. March 28, 2021 . July 14, 1971.
  36. Web site: M 8.0 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. July 3, 2017 . July 14, 1971.
  37. Web site: M 7.0 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. February 5, 2017 . August 17, 1959.
  38. Web site: M 7.8 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. May 28, 2016 . April 30, 1939.
  39. Web site: Significant Earthquake: SOLOMON ISLANDS. National Geophysical Data Center. May 28, 2016 . April 30, 1939.
  40. Web site: M 7.8 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. May 26, 2016 . January 30, 1939.
  41. Web site: Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND. National Geophysical Data Center. May 26, 2016 . January 30, 1939.
  42. Web site: M 7.9 - Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. April 3, 2016 . October 3, 1931.
  43. Web site: Significant Earthquake: SOLOMON ISLANDS: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND. National Geophysical Data Center. April 3, 2016 . October 3, 1931.
  44. Web site: M 7.8 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. December 12, 2015 . May 6, 1919.
  45. Web site: Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: SOLOMON ISLANDS. National Geophysical Data Center. December 12, 2015 . May 6, 1919.

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