4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 16 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — May 22, 2025

2025-05-22 17:44:47 UTC (2025-05-22) · approx. 4:44 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time17:44 UTC≈ 4:44 AM UTC+11
Depth66.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-10.600°, 161.908°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 22, 2025 at 17:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 16 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 66.9 km and coordinates -10.5996°, 161.9082°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -10.60°, 161.91°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
66.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
-10.5996°N
161.9082°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000qi6n
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
19
Azimuthal Gap
158.0°
Min Station Distance
2.250°
RMS Residual
0.33 sec
Last Updated
2025-08-13 15:14:27 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 16 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on May 22, 2025 at 17:44 UTC had a depth of 66.9 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qi6n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 22, 2025). M4.0 Earthquake 16 km S of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — May 22, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qi6n/