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. 34 earthquakes also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lifes and damages.
Other natural hazards on the Solomon Islands:
› Volcanos
› Tsunamis
› The most severe natural disasters worldwide
Back to overview: Solomon Islands
Earthquakes on the Solomon Islands since 1950
The strongest earthquake on the Solomon Islands happened on 04/21/1977 in the region Solomon Islands with a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale. The shifting of tectonic plates in a depth of 9 km resulted in 18 deaths. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami with further victims and destructions. | Date | Region | Tiefe | Magnitude | Deaths | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 5 km | 6.6 | 0 | |
| 01/03/2010 | Solomon Islands | 27 km | 7.1 | 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 | 10 km | 6.8 | 34 | |
| 04/20/1977 | Solomon Islands | 13 km | 7.5 | 0 | |
| 04/20/1977 | Solomon Islands | 50 km | 7.6 | 0 | |
| 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 | 11 km | 7.8 | 0 | |
| 12/31/1966 | Santa Cruz Islands | 16 km | 7.2 | 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. Several data have been summarized and translated.