2007 earthquake in the Solomon Islands
| 2007 earthquake in the Solomon Islands | |||
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| date | April 1, 2007 | ||
| Time | 20:39 UTC (April 2, 07:39 local time) | ||
| intensity | VIII on the MM scale | ||
| Magnitude | 8.1 M W | ||
| depth | 10 km | ||
| epicenter |
8 ° 28 '52 " S , 156 ° 58' 41" O
(45 km SSE of Gizo )
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| country | Solomon Islands | ||
| Affected places | |||
| Tsunami | Yes | ||
| dead | 54 | ||
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The 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake was a major seaquake that occurred on April 2, 2007 at 7:39 a.m. local time (8:39 p.m. GMT on April 1, 2007). The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the strength of the quake as 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale . The hypocenter was near the Solomon Islands at a depth of 15 miles, about 25 miles south-southwest of Gizo in the New Georgia Archipelago . There were several aftershocks at shallower depths, the strongest of which reached 6.2 MW .
consequences
The quake caused a tsunami that reached a height of 3 to 5 meters. At least 13 localities were destroyed and at least 43 people were killed. Thousands were left homeless. Ranongga Island was raised about three meters by the quake and the beach line has receded by up to 70 meters. Coral reefs have been exposed and local fishermen are concerned about the fishing grounds. Immediately after the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning for the Pacific, but the tsunami reached the Solomon Islands earlier than the warning. However, most residents were alarmed by the tremors, so many of them fled to higher areas. In Australia, the Bureau for Meteorology issued a warning for the Australian east coast, which stretched from Queensland to Tasmania . Australia and New Zealand have given financial aid to the Solomon Islands and have also sent relief supplies to the area. Humanitarian assistance was also provided by UNICEF and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement , as well as France and Taiwan.
Tectonic meaning
The quake occurred at the subduction zone of various tectonic plates . In the region, the Australian plate drifts towards the northeast at 90 to 105 millimeters per year and meets with the Pacific plate , under which this plate subducts. That is why earthquakes are not uncommon in the Solomon Islands and since the beginning of the 20th century a number of earthquakes have been recorded with a magnitude greater than 7.0; however, the area in which the earthquake occurred on April 2, 2007 had not been affected by an earthquake of such magnitude since the early 20th century.
Web links
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- ↑ Significant Earthquakes of the World: 2007. ( Memento of the original from October 4, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. United States Geological Survey , accessed January 4, 2009
- ↑ Magnitude 8.1 - SOLOMON ISLANDS ( Memento of the original from April 6, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , United States Geological Survey, accessed April 2, 2007
- ↑ Daily News & Analyzes : Quake lifts Solomons island meters from the sea . April 7, 2007
