M4.2 Earthquake 72 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — December 28, 2024
2024-12-28 18:09:22 UTC (2024-12-28) · approx. 5:09 AM UTC+11 local
On December 28, 2024 at 18:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 72 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 53.5 km and coordinates -10.4755°, 161.2613°.
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
161.2613°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 72 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on December 28, 2024 at 18:09 UTC had a depth of 53.5 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: us6000piwx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 28, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 72 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — December 28, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000piwx/