Very strong (damaging) earthquake along the coast of the Solomon Islands

Last update: July 26, 2012 at 8:34 am by By

Earthquake overview : at 10:20 PM local time a very strong earthquake occurred just off the coast of Guadalcanal, one of the main islands of the archipelago
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Update 26/07 – 08:32 UTC : 1 person was reported injured and it is now confirmed that a few houses have been destroyed.

Important Update 23:88 UTC : According to the National Emergency Operation Centre of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in Honiara the earthquake was measured at 6.5 with its epicenter approx. 37 km South West of Honiara.
A lot of people have evacuated to higher grounds and stayed there for the night even after the National Emergency Operation Center said 1 hour after the quake that there were no tsunami threats based on historical data and analysis.
Damage has been inflicted to infrastructure and houses and some unconfirmed reports from Honiara said that a few houses have collapsed because of damage to cement and concrete.

Update : The epicenter of this earthquake is located at the South-Western part of the island. Just south of this epicenter is a very deep trench were 2 tectonic plates are subducting under each other. The earthquakes are triggered by the cumulated stress of one of the “hanging” plates.

Update : People at Honiara are talking about a strong shaking (and they know all about earthquake shaking).

The epicenter of the earthquake is very close to the coast of Guadalcanal Island. Honiara, the capital of the islands is at only 37 km. Solomon islands are used to very strong to even massive earthquakes. Bit normally the epicenter of most of the earthquakes is out in the Ocean. Today’s earthquake is almost below the island itself. The hypocenter depth is currently set at 22,9 km although other agencies are giving also deeper hypocenters.

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : Mw 6.5
UTC Time : Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 11:20:27 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 10:20:27 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 22.9 km
Geo-location(s) :
37 km (23 miles) SW (220°) from HONIARA, Solomon Islands
152 km (94 miles) SW (225°) from Auki, Solomon Islands

Links to important maps
USGS Did You Feel It Map
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area
Historic earthquakes map
Seismic hazard map
Shaking map
Scientific parameters
Human impact map

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SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFORMATION
USGS Solomon Islands Jul 25 21:43 PM 5.1 18 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Solomon Islands Jul 25 21:43 PM 5.1 18 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Solomon Islands Jul 25 21:43 PM 5.1 22 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Solomon Islands Jul 25 20:01 PM 4.8 38 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Solomon Islands Jul 25 12:35 PM 4.8 25 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Solomon Islands Jul 25 12:35 PM 4.8 30 MAP I Felt It
USGS Solomon Islands Jul 25 11:20 AM 6.6 113 MAP I Felt It
  • Honiara, Solomon Islands - The recent earthquake has bring a lot of bad memories of the earthquake and Tsunami that hit Gizo not long ago. Aftershock have been felt some 80 minutes after the earthquake and families are running away with their little ones. People fear tsunami might strike, therefore are afraid to sleep.
  • Honiara - 2nd floor shaking hard, a few things fell down, but internet restored - ADSL and as it is SW thus on the other side of Guadalcanal (weathercoast) no tsunami fears. I am on the water - 5 meters away. I was in the SF 1989 EQ at Candlestick - that much worse and longer, took about 15-20 sec here (seemed). The wood and concrete swayed but made it and the AC continues to work along with electricity so we are lucky at the IBSH. USGS map showed the spot 15 minutes later. Michael
  • Honiara - Around 10:15PM - 6.5 M The epicenter was directly under the east side of Honiara; I’m on the western side, 3rd floor right on the water. I woke to a floor lamp crashing and breaking, the closet doors banging - It sounded like someone was trying to kick the door in. The building I’m in raddled loudly throughout but there seams to be no visual damage. The power was out on some areas of the island but quickly restored in our hotel. After shock around 1hr and another about 8hrs.
  • Honiara, Solomon Islands - Couldn't walk straight. second floor at home shook violently for a few seconds, with a few objects falling to the floor. Felt aftershocks some minutes later.
  • Honiara - I lived in a 3 storey apartment in honiara.I hit strongly.my houehold esp women and children are traumatised recalling the expieranced of the historic tsunami in westyern solomon not long ago.We leave about 50 meters off the coast of west honiara.all resients fled inland and spend the night. It hits again 30 mins ago.
  • Honiara - Thought my house was going down.... Couldn't balance myself properly, a lot of vomiting was done after the quake.
  • Honiara - It shook very strong for less than 5 seconds after a moderate shaking. Cause panic and even power cut to certain parts of Honiara.No major damage.
  • Honiara - I was already sound asleep, my 2yr old son and his dad had just said their prayers after watching a movie, when our concrete house sway , rocked and as if floated. Since it was my son's first awareness of an earthquake he was terrified and was speechless for almost half an hour.If it had gone on at this rate for another minute or two, we would surely have lots and lost of damage. But I guess only minor damage is done around the Capital but i feel for my people along the southern coast of Guadalc
  • Honiara - 1st time experienced in my entire life. im in honiara for 4 months. deep is is right behind us..scary..
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    USGS Solomon Islands Jul 25 11:20 AM 6.6 114 MAP I Felt It
    GEOFON Solomon Islands Jul 25 11:20 AM 6.3 23 MAP I Felt It
    USGS Solomon Islands Jul 25 11:20 AM 6.5 22 MAP I Felt It
    EMSC Solomon Islands Jul 25 11:20 AM 6.3 20 MAP I Felt It

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    City/Village where you felt the earthquake
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
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