# List of earthquakes in the Solomon Islands archipelago

This is a list of earthquakes in the Solomon Islands archipelago, which includes the nation state of Solomon Islands and Bougainville within Papua New Guinea. Only earthquakes over magnitude 8 are included unless they result in damage and/or casualties. Earthquakes from other regions that were strongly felt in the area are also be included.

## Background

The Australian Woodlark, Solomon Sea and Pacific Plates are converging at a rate of 97 mm/yr. Subduction of the Australian Plate has also given rise to volcanoes in the region. This region of the world lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 90 percent of all earthquake and volcanic activity is concentrated here.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe walls and informal construction.

## List of earthquakes

| Date | Region | Mag. | MMI | Deaths | Injuries | Comments |
| 2022-11-22 | Guadalcanal | 7.0 M$_w$ | VII | | 4 | Moderate damage |
| 2021-10-15 | Rendova | 6.4 M$_w$ | VI | | 1 | Moderate damage |
| 2017-01-22 | Bougainville | 7.9 M$_w$ | IX | 3 | 2 | Damage/power outages |
| 2016-12-17 | Bougainville | 7.9 M$_w$ | VIII | | | Power outages |
| 2016-12-08 | Makira | 7.8 M$_w$ | VIII | 1 | | Major damage/tsunami |
| 2014-04-11 | Bougainville | 7.1 M$_w$ | VII | 1 | | Major damage |
| 2013-02-06 | Nendö | 8.0 M$_w$ | VIII | 14 | 17 | Major damage/tsunami |
| 2012-07-25 | Guadalcanal | 6.4 M$_w$ | VII | | | Severe damage |
| 2010-01-03 | Rendova | 7.1 M$_w$ | VI | | Several | Major damage/tsunami |
| 2007-04-01 | Ghizo | 8.1 M$_w$ | VIII | 112 | | Major damage/tsunami |
| 1997-04-21 | Torba | 7.7 M$_w$ | VII | | | Tsunami |
| 1996-04-29 | Bougainville | 7.2 M$_w$ | VIII | 1 | | Moderate damage |
| 1995-08-16 | Bougainville | 7.7 M$_w$ | VII | | | Minor damage/landslides |
| 1988-08-10 | Makira | 7.6 M$_w$ | VII | 1 | | Tsunami |
| 1984-02-07 | Guadalcanal | 7.6 M$_w$ | VIII | | | Minor damage/Landslides |
| 1983-03-18 | New Britain | 7.6 M$_w$ | VII | | | Moderate damage/landslides |
| 1977-04-20 | Guadalcanal | 6.7 M$_w$ | VII | 34 | | Major damage/tsunami |
| 1977-04-21 | Guadalcanal | 7.5 M$_w$ | VII | 18 | 1 | Major damage |
| 1975-07-20 | Bougainville | 7.9 M$_w$ | VIII | | | Major damage/tsunami |
| 1975-02-04 | Bougainville | 7.1 M$_w$ | IX | | | Minor damage/tsunami |
| 1971-07-26 | New Ireland | 8.1 M$_w$ | VI | 3 | 5 | Moderate damage/tsunami |
| 1971-07-14 | New Ireland | 8.0 M$_w$ | IX | 3 | 5 | Moderate damage/tsunami |
| 1959-08-17 | Rendova | 7.0 M$_w$ | VI | | | Major damage |
| 1939-04-30 | Guadalcanal | 7.8 M$_w$ | VII | 12 | | Moderate damage/tsunami |
| 1939-01-30 | Bougainville | 7.8 M$_w$ | VII | 5 | 101 | Moderate damage |
| 1931-10-03 | Makira | 7.9 M$_w$ | VI | 50 | | Major damage/tsunami |
| 1919-05-06 | Bougainville | 7.8 M$_w$ | VII | | | Minor damage |
| Note: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded. ||||||||