Tsunami warning lifted after quake hits Solomon Islands

Quake with 6.9 magnitude hits near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, prompting warning.

solomon islands floods — In April last year, floods hit the Solomon Islands, killing 14 people and leaving thousands homeless [AP]

An undersea earthquake measuring 6.9 magnitude struck near the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific on Saturday, prompting a short-lived tsunami warning for the area.

The quake, initially recorded at 7.5 but later downgraded, struck at a depth of 33km near the Solomon’s Santa Cruz islands, said the US Geological Survey.

Keep reading

How Taiwan learned from the past to reduce the risk from earthquakes

How is Afghanistan coping six months after deadly quakes?

‘Violent rumble’: 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattles New York City, northeast

Taiwan searches for 18 still missing after Wednesday’s earthquake

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a warning, saying “hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 300km of the epicentre along the coasts of the Solomon Islands”.

But 30 minutes later, the centre said there was no longer a tsunami threat, but that small sea level fluctuations above and below the normal tide may continue for a few hours.

Source: Reuters

Live