M4.2 Earthquake 97 km NNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands — March 16, 2024
2024-03-16 20:15:54 UTC (2024-03-16) · approx. 6:15 AM UTC+10 local
On March 16, 2024 at 20:15 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 97 km NNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 11.7 km and coordinates -7.3083°, 156.4661°.
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
156.4661°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Gizo, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 97 km NNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands on March 16, 2024 at 20:15 UTC had a depth of 11.7 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: us6000mk84). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 16, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 97 km NNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands — March 16, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mk84/