Tsunami threat canceled after strong quake hits Santa Cruz IslandsJuly 18, 2015 - 09:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A tsunami threat was canceled Saturday, July 18, after a strong earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands in the South Pacific and no damage or casualties were reported, according to the Associated Press. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake measured 6.9, down from a preliminary magnitude of 7.5. It hit at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles) and was centered undersea 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of Lata in the eastern Solomon Islands, where the Santa Cruz Islands are located. The Santa Cruz Islands are about 2,252 kilometers (1,400 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia. The quake wasn't felt in the Solomons' capital, Honiara, said Janes Ginting, the Solomon Islands country director for the World Vision aid group. Ginting had not heard any reports of damage elsewhere, though he was still trying to make contact with disaster officials and World Vision staffers in Lata, according to the AP. The Solomons comprise more than 200 islands with a population of about 552,000 people. The islands lie on the "Ring of Fire" — an arc that stretches around the Pacific rim and where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur. A magnitude 8 quake near Lata in February 2013 generated a tsunami up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) high that damaged dozens of homes and left several people dead on the western side of the Santa Cruz. More than 50 people were killed and thousands lost their homes in April 2007, when a magnitude-8.1 quake hit the western Solomon Islands, sending waves crashing into coastal villages. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Director General of Ucom takes part in recruiting conference Ralph Yirikian participated in the Recruit Days business and networking conference organized by Move2Career. Ameriabank named Best Bank in Armenia for 2024 by Global Finance Ameriabank has been named the Best Bank in Armenia by Global Finance magazine in its 31st annual awards. Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. Lavrov rejects Armenia’s “defamation” of Russia, CSTO Lavrov decried the Armenian leaders’ “defamation” of Russian soldiers and border guards deployed in Armenia. |