M6.3 earthquake near Malango, Guadalcanal Province

What happened

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 89 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on 23 Feb 1985, 13:41 UTC at a depth of 85 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Malango, about 149 km away in Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands.