M5.3 Earthquake 187 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands — December 24, 2020
2020-12-24 21:16:41 UTC (2020-12-24) · approx. 8:16 AM UTC+11 local
On December 24, 2020 at 21:16 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 187 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -9.4727°, 157.8453°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
157.8453°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Gizo, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 187 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands on December 24, 2020 at 21:16 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -9.4727°, 157.8453°, which is 187 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d2q1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 24, 2020). M5.3 Earthquake 187 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands — December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d2q1/