The Ring of Fire, which stretches the length of the Pacific basin, has rumbled back in life with 19 quakes in the space of just 24 hours – and a scientist has said we can expect plenty more before the end of 2018. Yesterday witnessed 19 tremors, including one 30 miles east-southeast of the Solomon Islands with a magnitude of 5.8, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Another measuring 5.5 was recorded 31 miles east-northeast of Fiji’s Ndoi Island.
Ben van der Pluijm, a geologist at the University of Michigan, told Express.co.uk: “On a yearly basis we have roughly 1500 magnitude 5-5.9 earthquakes around the world. “So far we are at roughly 1100 for 2018.” Mr van der Pluijm said it was important to keep recent events in context. He explained: “It’s worth remembering that one magnitude 6.5 earthquake releases the same amount of energy as 30 magnitude 5.5 earthquakes. READ MORE
