Very strong M 6.7 earthquake hit Santa Cruz Islands

Very strong and shallow earthquake, with preliminary magnitude registered as 6.7 (USGS) hit Santa Cruz Islands on February 01, 2013 at 22:16:35 UTC. The epicenter was located 45 km SW Lata, Solomon Islands and 375 km (233 miles) E (101°) from Kira Kira, at coordinated 11.058°S, 165.313°E and at depth of 10 km (6.2 miles) according to USGS. EMSC reported M 6.2 at depth of only 2 km. There was no tsunami warning issued.

Magnitude	6.7
Date-Time	Friday, February 01, 2013 at 22:16:37 UTC Saturday, February 02, 2013 at 09:16:37 AM at epicenter
Location	10.997°S, 165.403°E
Depth	34.2 km (21.3 miles)
Region	SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Distances	384 km (239 miles) E (99°) from Kira Kira, Solomon Islands 620 km (386 miles) ESE (106°) from HONIARA, Solomon Islands 1999 km (1242 miles) E (96°) from PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 15.7 km (9.8 miles); depth +/- 5 km (3.1 miles)
Parameters	NST=266, Nph=269, Dmin=622.3 km, Rmss=1.57 sec, Gp= 29°, M-type=regional moment magnitude (Mw), Version=A
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc000ezv6

 
This is the forth M6+ earthquake that struck the area in only 3 days, followed by dozens of M4+ and M5+ earthquakes and the second today. Earlier, M 6.0 hit the area 59 km (36 miles) SW of Lata, Solomon Islands at depth of 9.4 km, followed by (5.8 miles).

 
 
UPDATE (February 1, 2013 - 22:56 UTC)

EMSC revised magnitude and their reports now show M 6.7, same as USGS. EMSC also reports different dept, instead of initial 2 km, they are now showing 35km. Both agencies now showing M 6.7 at depth of 35 km.

 
 
Featured image: EMSC+GoogleMaps