M5.1 Earthquake 36 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands — February 14, 2026
2026-02-14 03:12:29 UTC (2026-02-14) · approx. 2:12 PM UTC+11 local
Felt by 2 people across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On February 14, 2026 at 03:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 36 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 14.1 km and coordinates -9.5475°, 159.4230°. This earthquake was detected by 53 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 401, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 2 days ago 72 km NW of Malango, Solomon Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
159.4230°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Malango, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 36 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands on February 14, 2026 at 03:12 UTC had a depth of 14.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -9.5475°, 159.4230°, which is 36 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 72 km NW of Malango, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000s95m). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, February 14, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 36 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands — February 14, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000s95m/