6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Solomon Islands

June 5, 2013 – SOLOMON ISLANDS – A 6.1-magnitude earthquake has struck off the Solomon Islands, the US Geological Survey says, but no immediate tsunami warning has been issued. The tremor, at a depth of 64 kilometers, hit in the Santa Cruz Islands, some 89 kilometers south of the remote town of Lata, where a tsunami left at least 10 people dead in February. Geoscience Australia gave a higher preliminary measurement of 6.6-magnitude, but said it was unlikely to have caused a local tsunami in the quake-prone region. “That magnitude may change over time as we get more data,” duty seismologist Spiro Spiliopoulos told AFP, adding that they measured the depth at about 60 kilometers. “Because of its depth and its somewhat smaller size (to the February quake), I would say it’s unlikely to create a tsunami,” he said. The February tsunami, sparked by an 8.0-magnitude quake, killed at least 10 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands homeless. The Solomons are part of the “Ring of Fire,” a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific that is subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In 2007, a tsunami following an 8.0-magnitude earthquake killed at least 52 people in the Solomons and left thousands homeless. –TVNZ