Solomon Islands: 7.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Pacific nation

 

An earthquake of 7.0 magnitude has struck the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean, near the south-west region of Malango. 

The quake hit just after 13:00 local time (02:00 GMT), at a depth of 15km (9 miles) and 18km south-west of the coast according to the US Geological Survey. The quake was followed by at least three aftershocks in the same area, with the largest ranked at a 6.0 magnitude. 

The director of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service, David Hiba Hiriasia, has urged locals to remain cautious due to expected aftershocks, and to stay alert around tall structures. The Solomon Islands and Indonesia sit on the “ring of fire” area of tectonic activity in the Pacific.