August 1, 1961 Earthquake: Solomon Islands
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Solomon Islands on August 1, 1961 at 05:39:54 UTC, 25 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- August 1, 1961
- Time
- 05:39:54 UTC
- Place
- Solomon Islands
- Magnitude
- 6.4 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 25 km (16 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 9.849° S, 160.614° E
- Country
- Solomon Islands
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1961, August 1, 05:39:53.2 UTC. 9.9 S, 160.5 E, depth 50 km, magnitude 6.5-6.75. Felt. (reference #45)
1961, August 1, 05:39:54.39 UTC, 9.849 S, 160.614 E, depth 25 km, 6.39 Mw. (reference #10476)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 3, 1931, San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands
- April 20, 1977, Solomon Islands
- April 21, 1977, Solomon Islands
- April 30, 1939, Solomon Islands
- August 10, 1988, San Cristobal, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
- December 8, 2016, Solomon Islands
- April 20, 1977, Solomon Islands
- February 7, 1984, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
- April 20, 1977, Solomon Islands
- December 15, 1935, Solomon Islands
- April 12, 1926, Solomon Islands
- June 15, 1966, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
- October 10, 1931, Solomon Islands
- January 20, 2003, Honiara, San Cristobal, Solomon Islands
- September 27, 1985, Honiara, Guadacanal, Solomon Islands
More
Significant earthquakes of 1961The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1961Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 6399.