M4.9 Earthquake 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — May 12, 2026
2026-05-12 03:45:42 UTC (2026-05-12) · approx. 2:45 PM UTC+11 local
On May 12, 2026 at 03:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 59.7 km and coordinates -10.2077°, 161.2204°. This earthquake was detected by 110 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
161.2204°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on May 12, 2026 at 03:45 UTC had a depth of 59.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.2077°, 161.2204°, which is 81 km WNW 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: us6000sx2s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 12, 2026). M4.9 Earthquake 81 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — May 12, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sx2s/