Quakes strike the Solomon Islands

Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.6 and 7.7 triggered large waves throughout the Solomon Islands on Sunday, and authorities were trying to determine whether there was any serious damage or injuries.

Government spokesman George Herming said people throughout the Pacific island chain awoke to a strong quake at 7:14 am. The second quake was recorded on Sunday night., Herming said.

He said that people on Makira and nearby islands southeast of the capital, Honiara, reported seeing three large waves after the first quake.

He said there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

A tsunami warning has been issued for the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The center earlier reported that sea level readings indicate a small tsunami was generated that may have caused some destruction near the epicenter.

The US Geological Survey reported the epicenter was 323 km southeast of Honiara, at a depth of 29 km.

The Solomon Islands, home to 600,000 people, was already reeling from devastating flash floods that struck Honiara and other areas on April 3.

The floods have killed 23 people and left 9,000 more homeless. Herming said up to 30 people remain missing.

The Solomon Islands lies on the Ring of Fire, an arc of earthquake and volcanic activity around the Pacific Rim.

(China Daily 04/14/2014 page11)