M4.2 Earthquake 70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — January 17, 2023
2023-01-17 18:36:42 UTC (2023-01-17) · approx. 5:36 AM UTC+11 local
On January 17, 2023 at 18:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 84.0 km and coordinates -10.4070°, 161.2782°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
161.2782°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on January 17, 2023 at 18:36 UTC had a depth of 84.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jj7l). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 17, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 70 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — January 17, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jj7l/