Solomon Islands Tsunami (2007)

On April 2, 2007, a tsunami triggered by an 8.1 magnitude submarine earthquake struck the remotely populated Solomon Islands, killing over 50 people, injuring over 5,000, and leaving over 7,000 homeless. Several aftershocks were reported, with the highest reaching 6.4 magnitude.

An archipelago of over 800 islands, the Solomon Islands is home to over 500,000 inhabitants. Approximately 80 percent of the population's livelihood is agriculture-based, in particular fishing and farming. The islands are situated in a seismically active subduction zone known for producing doublet earthquakes (two quakes similar in magnitude occurring close to one another). The islands are no stranger to natural disasters, having experienced floods, cyclones, landslides, droughts, tsunamis, and earthquakes. Analysis of seismological records from the last 80 years reveals that the islands experience ...