M5.0 Earthquake 140 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — July 25, 2023
2023-07-25 19:30:07 UTC (2023-07-25) · approx. 6:30 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On July 25, 2023 at 19:30 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 140 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 47.6 km and coordinates -11.0768°, 163.0416°. This earthquake was detected by 147 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 4 days ago 124 km ESE 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
163.0416°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 140 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on July 25, 2023 at 19:30 UTC had a depth of 47.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -11.0768°, 163.0416°, which is 140 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 124 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kvis). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 25, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 140 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — July 25, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kvis/