No damage expected from Solomon Islands earthquake

The Pacific is still feeling the ramifications of a large earthquake two weeks ago after a 6.7 magnitude aftershock shook the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.

The region has been suffering aftershocks since the 7.8 magnitude quake on Dec. 9 and the follow up 7.0 magnitude quake the day after, recording 40 earthquakes above magnitude 5.0 over the last two weeks, Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Dan Jaksa told Xinhua.

"It's quite normal. It's the most active region in the world earthquake wise," Jaksa said via telephone.

Pacific Islands border the 4,000-kilometre-long Pacific Australia plate to form part of the "Ring of Fire," a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between the fast moving tectonic plates.

"The stress in that part of the world ... is the biggest in the world, so that's why you get so many magnitude 5, 6, 7, and 8 earthquakes," Jaksa said.

Jaksa isn't expecting any damage from Tuesday's 6.7 aftershock as it was in a remote location. There were no immediate reports of damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in a statement said there was no tsunami threat, measuring the quake approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Kira Kira at a depth of 44 kilometers.

On Sunday, Solomon Islands was shaken by a 6.0 magnitude quake, while people in Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Saturday were running for the hills after a 7.9 quake 132 kilometers east of Kokopo generated a tsunami warning.

source: Xinhua