6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Solomon Islands

July 5, 2013 – SOLOMON ISLANDS – A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands on Friday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, but there was no immediate tsunami warning issued. The tremor, at a depth of 72 kilometers (45 miles), hit at 4.16am local time (17:16 GMT Thursday) 81km south of the town of Panguna in Papua New Guinea. The USGS issued a “green alert,” to say there was a low likelihood of casualties and damage. In February the remote town of Lata was hit by a devastating tsunami after an 8.0-magnitude earthquake. The tsunami left at least 10 people dead, destroyed hundreds of homes and left thousands of people 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. –Times of India