
Earthquakes on the Solomon Islands
On the Solomon Islands, there are very strong earthquakes with far-reaching consequences. Earthquakes with a magnitude of over 8.0 destroy numerous houses within a radius of several hundred kilometers and are causing great damage and devastation. Due to the special tectonic situation of the country, there are more earthquakes than average.56 people died since 1950 by direct consequences of earthquakes. There were 35 earthquakes that also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lives, and cause additional damage.
Other natural hazards on the Solomon Islands:
› Volcanoes
› Tsunamis
› Cyclones
› The most severe earthquakes in the world
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Severe earthquake on May 22nd
In the night of May 22nd, 2023, a devastating earthquake occurred 55 km west-northwest of Kirakira at 02:45 local time. The quake had a magnitude of 6.1 points on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of about 78 kilometers. In the course of the following days there were several aftershocks. One of them with a magnitude of over 2.5. The most severe aftershock had a magnitude of 5.6. Such violent earthquakes occur only rarely. It is the strongest earthquake on the Solomon Islands in 55 days. As recently as March 28th, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred about 73 km west of Buala.Most recent events
This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around the Solomon Islands by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. This page is updated daily at 10:00 UTC.
- June 2, 9:52 amMagnitude 5.4: 117 km south-southeast of Lata at a depth of 76.52 km.
- May 29, 3:13 amMagnitude 4.9: 106 km west of Lata at a depth of 70.06 km.
- May 28, 2:29 pmMagnitude 5.6: Solomon Islands at a depth of 101.65 km.
- May 23, 12:36 amMagnitude 5.3: 150 km east-northeast of Gizo at a depth of ten km.
- May 22, 2:45 amMagnitude 6.1: 55 km west-northwest of Kirakira at a depth of 77.79 km.
Earthquakes on the Solomon Islands since 1950

Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/22/2022 | Honiara | 15 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
12/09/2016 | Solomon Islands | 24 km | 6.9 | 0 | |
12/08/2016 | Solomon Islands | 28 km | 7.8 | 1 | |
11/18/2015 | Solomon Islands | 57 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
07/18/2015 | Solomon Islands | 22 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
07/10/2015 | Solomon Islands | 54 km | 6.7 | 0 | |
04/13/2014 | Solomon Islands | 23 km | 7.4 | 0 | |
04/12/2014 | Solomon Islands | 3 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
02/08/2013 | Santa Cruz Islands | 38 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
02/06/2013 | Santa Cruz Islands | 25 km | 7.9 | 0 | |
07/25/2012 | Guadalcanal | 27 km | 6.4 | 0 | |
01/05/2010 | Solomon Islands | 32 km | 6.8 | 0 | |
01/03/2010 | Solomon Islands | 27 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
01/03/2010 | Solomon Islands | 5 km | 6.6 | 0 | |
10/07/2009 | Santa Cruz Islands | 51 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
09/02/2007 | Santa Cruz Islands | 18 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
04/01/2007 | Solomon Islands | 56 km | 8.1 | 2 | |
01/20/2003 | Honiara, San Cristobal | 6 km | 7.3 | 0 | |
04/21/1997 | Santa Cruz Islands; Vanuatu | 26 km | 7.7 | 0 | |
04/29/1996 | Bougainville Island | 41 km | 7.2 | 1 | |
05/27/1992 | Santa Cruz Islands | 38 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
10/14/1991 | Solomon Islands | 12 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
02/09/1991 | Solomon Islands | 58 km | 6.9 | 0 | |
08/10/1988 | San Cristobal, Guadalcanal | 29 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
06/18/1987 | Solomon Islands | 16 km | 6.3 | 0 | |
09/27/1985 | Honiara, Guadacanal | 8 km | 6.9 | 0 | |
02/07/1984 | Guadalcanal | 21 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
08/05/1982 | Santa Cruz Islands | 52 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
07/17/1980 | Santa Cruz Islands; Vanuatu | 23 km | 7.9 | 0 | |
07/08/1980 | Santa Cruz Islands (Banks) | 19 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
04/21/1977 | Solomon Islands | 9 km | 8.1 | 18 | |
04/20/1977 | Solomon Islands | 13 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
04/20/1977 | Solomon Islands | 50 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
04/20/1977 | Solomon Islands | 10 km | 6.8 | 34 | |
02/01/1974 | Solomon Islands | 33 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
01/31/1974 | Solomon Islands | 5 km | 7.0 | 0 | |
08/11/1970 | Solomon Islands | 23 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
01/05/1969 | Santa Isabel Island | 7.5 | 0 | ||
12/31/1966 | Santa Cruz Islands | 16 km | 7.2 | 0 | |
12/31/1966 | Santa Cruz Islands | 11 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
06/15/1966 | Guadalcanal | 42 km | 7.1 | 0 | |
09/17/1963 | Solomon Islands | 11 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
09/15/1963 | Solomon Islands | 54 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
08/01/1961 | Solomon Islands | 54 km | 6.4 | 0 | |
08/17/1959 | Solomon Islands | 40 km | 7.3 | 0 | |
12/17/1957 | Santa Cruz Islands | 7.8 | 0 | ||
09/08/1955 | Fauro Island | 14 km | 6.5 | 0 | |
11/04/1953 | Solomon Islands | 13 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
11/08/1950 | Solomon Sea | 12 km | 7.3 | 0 |
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Data have been summarized and translated.