Earthquake struck off Kirakira, no damages

Monday 8 June 2010 11:27


The earthquake's epi-centre, off Makira Island.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck near Makira on Saturday afternoon.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of 35km off Kirakira.

Officials in the capital Honiara, 200km from the quake's epi-centre, said it was felt quite strongly there but there were no immediate reports of damage.

A similar type earthquake measuring 7.2 also struck Haiti early this year which left some 200, 000 people dead and millions now homeless.

The Pacific tsunami warning center said there was no tsunami warning in place.

In Honiara the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) on Saturday also said no tsunami threat was issued despite a strong earthquake 35 miles West South West of Makira.

The quake was reported as 30 km deep.

NDMO warned communities closest to the epicentre to avoid entering structures that may have been loosened by the strong quake.

The statement said this is due to possible aftershocks that could potentially cause further damages.

The NDMO also said HF reports it received from parts of the weather coast of Makira didn’t mention any damage or casualty.

A Central Guadalcanal HF radio also reported they felt the strong quake but there weren’t any damages.

The statement also added a helicopter overview flight organised to check areas closest to the epicentre couldn’t go beyond Marau Sound due to bad weather.

The flight left Honiara at 9 o’çlock yesterday morning once the weather settles down.

[Source: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/]