The United States Geological Survey
detected a Magnitude 5.8 Earthquake at a depth of 10 km, off the west coat the island of Guadalcanal in the Solomons slightly after 5.50 am local time
on Friday 30 March 2018 (slightly after 6.50 pm on Thursday 29 March, GMT).There are no reports of any damage associated with this event, but some minor damage occurred on Guadalcanal.
The approximate location of the 30 March 2018 Guadacanal Earthquake. USGS.
The Guadacanal Island lies on the southern part of the Pacific Plate, close to its boundary with the Australian Plate. The Australian Plate is
moving northward relative to the Pacific Plate, and being subducted
beneath it, along the Solomon Trench, which runs to the south of Guadacanal Island. This is not a smooth process, and the two plates continuously stick together and then break apart as the pressure builds up, creating shocks which we experience as Earthquakes.
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit
organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.
See also...
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