5.3

M5.3 Earthquake 96 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — August 7, 2021

2021-08-07 14:51:31 UTC (2021-08-07) · approx. 1:51 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM5.3(mww)
Time14:51 UTC≈ 1:51 AM UTC+11
Depth57.7 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-10.059°, 161.133°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 7, 2021 at 14:51 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 96 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 57.7 km and coordinates -10.0594°, 161.1333°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -10.06°, 161.13°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.3 mww
Depth
57.7 km
shallow crustal
Location
-10.0594°N
161.1333°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000f364
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
432
Azimuthal Gap
25.0°
Min Station Distance
1.321°
RMS Residual
0.81 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 22:17:58 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?

The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 96 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on August 7, 2021 at 14:51 UTC had a depth of 57.7 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.0594°, 161.1333°, which is 96 km WNW 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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000f364). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, August 7, 2021). M5.3 Earthquake 96 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — August 7, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000f364/