Quake epicenter |
|
| Date | 22:36:30, 3 January 2010 (UTC) |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 7.1 Mw |
| Depth | 30.5 km (19 mi) |
| Countries or regions | Solomon Islands |
| Tsunami | Yes |
| Casualties | None reported |
The 2010 Solomon Islands earthquake was a magnitude 7.1 Mw earthquake that occurred in the Solomon Islands at 22:36:30 (UTC) on January 3, 2010, resulting in a tsunami measuring approximately 10 feet in some parts of the islands. The earthquake was the largest in a series of quakes to strike the Solomon Islands over the preceding days.[1] The 7.1 mainshock was preceded by a 6.6 magnitude foreshock some 48 minutes previous.[2]
As many as 1,000 people were left homeless on the island of Rendova after the earthquake and tsunami destroyed approximately 200 homes.[1]
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The location was 105 km (65 mi) south east of Gizo, 210 km (130 mi) south west of Dadali, Santa Isabel and 295 km (183 mi) north west of Honiara, Guadalcanal.[3]
The earthquake was centered under the sea floor near the town of Gizo, which was heavily damaged in the 2007 Solomon Islands earthquake.[4]
The earthquake triggered landslides and tsunamis on the islands of Rendova and Tetepare.[1] A tsunami measuring up to 10 feet (3 meters) struck Rendova, destroying as many as 200 homes and leaving one-third of Rendova's population homeless.[1]
Approximately 1,000 residents have lost their residences, out of the total Rendovan population of just 3,600 people.[1] The village of Retavo, which has a population of approximately 20 people, was hit by a 10 foot tsunami wave.[1] Another village, Baniata, reported that sixteen homes were destroyed and thirty-two were damaged by the earthquake and tsunami.[4]
Seven fisherman from the village of Viru on Marovo Island, Western Province are reportedly missing after the tsunami.[5]
Loti Yates, a Solomon Islands disaster management official based in Honiara, told the media, "It could be several hundred houses have been damaged ... but that is still not verified. There are two to three villages where the situation could be much worse."[4]
Ten foreign tourists were evacuated from an eco-resort on the island of Tetepare.[4]
Solomon Islands police helicopters photographed the tsunami damage and landslides on both Tetepare and Rendova following the quake.[1]
Only shocks with magnitude 5.4 or higher are listed.[6] Shocks with magnitude 6.0 or higher are highlighted in light blue. The main shock with moment magnitude 7.1 Mw is highlighted in dark blue.
| Date (YYYY-MM-DD) |
Time (UTC) |
Latitude | Longitude | Depth | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-01-03 | 21:48:06 | 08.732° S | 157.496° E | 26.0 km (16 mi) | 6.6 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-03 | 22:36:28 | 08.800° S | 157.370° E | 25.0 km (16 mi) | 7.1 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-04 | 04:17:48 | 08.909° S | 157.619° E | 12.1 km (8 mi) | 5.8 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-04 | 11:28:22 | 08.379° S | 157.113° E | 21.5 km (13 mi) | 5.7 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-05 | 12:15:33 | 09.056° S | 157.585° E | 18.7 km (12 mi) | 6.8 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-05 | 12:25:32 | 08.979° S | 158.091° E | 35.0 km (22 mi) | 5.4 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-05 | 13:10:02 | 08.877° S | 157.621° E | 35.0 km (22 mi) | 5.4 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-05 | 13:11:43 | 09.094° S | 157.941° E | 35.0 km (22 mi) | 6.0 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-09 | 05:51:34 | 09.169° S | 157.614° E | 35.0 km (22 mi) | 6.3 (Mw) |
| 2010-01-09 | 07:04:36 | 09.150° S | 157.645° E | 35.0 km (22 mi) | 5.4 (Mw) |
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