The Azerbaijan State News Agency

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6.0 magnitude earthquake reported in Solomon Islands

21.07.2011 [11:54]
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Baku, July 21 (AZERTAC). A strong earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday morning, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The 6.0 -magnitude earthquake at 9.04 a.m. local time (2204 GMT Wednesday) was centered about 28 kilometers (17 miles) east-northeast of Kirakira on Makira Island of the Solomon Islands, which consists of nearly 1,000 islands. It struck about 22.5 kilometers (14 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was not immediately known if there was damage or if there were casualties as a result of the earthquake, but the USGS estimated that some 8,000 people may have felt strong shaking which could potentially result in light to moderate damage. Another 83,000 people were estimated to have perceived light to moderate shaking.