Strong earthquake rocks the Solomon Islands
January 4th, 2010 - 12:15 pm ICT by BNO NewsGIZO, SOLOMON ISLANDS (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands on early Monday, seismologists said.
The earthquake, which struck at 8.48 a.m. local time (21.48 UTC Sunday) had a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. It was initially reported as a 6.6-magnitude.
The location of the earthquake was about 22.4 miles deep, making it a shallow earthquake. Shallow earthquake often tend to cause more damage, and increase the potential of a possible tsunami.
There was no major tsunami threat following the earthquake, but authorities warned for the possibility of a local tsunami following the tremor. “Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a few hundred kilometers of the earthquake epicenter,” a statement from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center read. “Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.”
The center said authorities can assume the danger has passed if no tsunami waves are observed near the epicenter within an hour of the earthquake.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties following the quake.
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