
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:
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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 11 am UTC.
- Feb. 1, 11:21 amMagnitude 5.0: 12 km north of Malango at a depth of 29.56 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.