HONIARA, Solomon Islands (AFP) – A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on Tuesday, swaying buildings, hurling items off shelves and briefly knocking out power in parts of the capital Honiara. There were no reports of serious injuries or major structural damage. “This was a big one,” Joy Nisha, a receptionist with the Heritage Park Hotel in the capital told AFP. “Some of the things in the hotel fell. Everyone seems OK, but panicky.” At one […]
Tag: Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands suspends US naval visits: US embassy
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) – The Solomon Islands has suspended all visits from the United States Navy, the US embassy in Canberra said Tuesday, heightening concerns over the growing influence of China in the region. “The United States received formal notification from the Government of Solomon Islands regarding a moratorium on all naval visits, pending updates in protocol procedures,” an embassy spokeswoman said in a statement. It comes a week after Washington said a coast guard […]
Chinese troops in Solomons ‘likely’: Australian minister
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — China is “very likely” to put troops in the Solomon Islands after signing a contentious security deal with the Pacific nation, Australia’s home affairs minister said Wednesday. The deal was announced by Beijing last Tuesday, just weeks after a draft version leaked on social media and sparked concern it could open the door to a Chinese military presence in the South Pacific. Asked how realistic it was that China would […]
Repatriated student from PHL is Solomon Islands’ first recorded coronavirus case
Honiara, Solomon Islands (AFP) — The Solomon Islands announced they have lost the battle to stay free of the coronavirus, leaving just nine small, remote territories that have not reported a single case. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told the Pacific island nation in a televised address that a student who recently arrived from the Philippines on a repatriation flight carrying 96 passengers had returned a positive test. “It pains me to say that we have […]
Defying virus, Latvian ocean rower plans next adventure
by Imants LIEPINSH Agence France-Presse RIGA, Latvia (AFP) — After spending 140 days rowing across the ocean without seeing another human being, Latvian adventurer Karlis Bardelis has some valuable tips for those learning to cope with coronavirus lockdowns. Bardelis started his nearly two-year journey in Peru in July 2018, reaching French Polynesia after nearly five months and finishing in Malaysia in June of this year. Along the way, he was rammed by sharks off Papua […]
6.3-magnitude quake hits Solomon Islands
(Eagle News) — A magnitude 6.3 earthquake rocked the Solomon Islands on Monday, Jan. 27, about 105 kilometers west northwest of Kirakira, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake was 17.7 kilometres (11 miles) deep and was also some 140 kilometers southeast of the Pacific nation’s capital Honiara, the USGS added. It occurred at 5:02 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27 UTC time, or 1:02 p.m. Monday, Manila time.
Third strong quake in two weeks hits off Solomon Islands
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the Solomon Islands on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said, the third strong tremor off the Pacific nation in less than two weeks. The quake hit at 4.46pm (0546 GMT) at a depth of 39 kilometres (24 miles) about 83 kilometres west-northwest of Kirakira, the USGS added. On December 10 a 6.9-magnitude quake struck off Kirakira. The previous day a 7.7-magnitude tremor triggered severe shaking […]
No Filipinos hurt in Solomon Islands earthquake
No Filipino was reported killed or harmed in a series of earthquake in the Solomon Islands according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
