M5.1 Earthquake 53 km NW of Auki, Solomon Islands — May 4, 2023
2023-05-04 22:20:34 UTC (2023-05-04) · approx. 9:20 AM UTC+11 local
On May 4, 2023 at 22:20 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 53 km NW of Auki, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -8.4015°, 160.3855°. This earthquake was detected by 82 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
160.3855°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Auki, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 53 km NW of Auki, Solomon Islands on May 4, 2023 at 22:20 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 -8.4015°, 160.3855°, which is 53 km NW of Auki, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000k9k8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 4, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 53 km NW of Auki, Solomon Islands — May 4, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k9k8/