M4.9 Earthquake 59 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — January 17, 2025
2025-01-17 07:43:54 UTC (2025-01-17) · approx. 6:43 PM UTC+11 local
On January 17, 2025 at 07:43 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 59 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 79.3 km and coordinates -10.4220°, 161.3749°. This earthquake was detected by 61 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
161.3749°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 59 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on January 17, 2025 at 07:43 UTC had a depth of 79.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.4220°, 161.3749°, which is 59 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pkl5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 17, 2025). M4.9 Earthquake 59 km W of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — January 17, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pkl5/