M4.6 Earthquake 142 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands — January 12, 2024
2024-01-12 23:30:08 UTC (2024-01-12) · approx. 10:30 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On January 12, 2024 at 23:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 142 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 97.4 km and coordinates -11.7672°, 166.5714°. This earthquake was detected by 30 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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 5.1 mainshock that occurred 11 days ago 171 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
166.5714°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Lata, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 142 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands on January 12, 2024 at 23:30 UTC had a depth of 97.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -11.7672°, 166.5714°, which is 142 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 171 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m4pi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, January 12, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 142 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands — January 12, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m4pi/