M5.3 Earthquake 73 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — January 9, 2021
2021-01-09 23:01:12 UTC (2021-01-09) · approx. 10:01 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.6 mainshock.
On January 9, 2021 at 23:01 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 73 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -10.8029°, 162.4962°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred 28 days ago 98 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
162.4962°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 73 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on January 9, 2021 at 23:01 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 -10.8029°, 162.4962°, which is 73 km ESE of Kirakira, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.6 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred earlier 98 km SE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d73v). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 9, 2021). M5.3 Earthquake 73 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — January 9, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d73v/