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Solomon Islands rattled by quakes

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Solomon Islands were hit by seven quakes in 10 hours
  • Most powerful was 7.2 magnitude, another registered 6.5 magnitude
  • One village evacuated; 16 homes destroyed, 60 more damaged
  • Philippines also shaken by a 5.3-magnitude quake early Monday
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A string of earthquakes rattled the Solomon Islands Monday morning, while another quake struck the Philippines, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Solomon Islands were hit by seven quakes in 10 hours, starting at 8:48 a.m. and causing damage to at least one village. Rattling the islands were a strong 6.5-magnitude quake at 8:48 a.m. (4:48 p.m. Sunday ET) and a more powerful 7.2-magnitude tremor less than an hour later. Five other quakes of at least a 5.0 magnitude followed.

The National Disaster Management Office confirmed damage to the village of Vaniata, which has been evacuated. The quakes destroyed 16 homes and damaged another 60, according to the office.

Also on Monday, a 5.3-magnitude quake, hit the Philippines at 5:38 a.m. (4:38 p.m. Sunday ET), near the eastern-most island of Mindanao, the USGS reported. There were no reports of damage.

The Solomon Islands and the Philippines are situated in the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.