M4.9 Earthquake 141 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands — May 6, 2021
2021-05-06 00:37:26 UTC (2021-05-06) · approx. 11:37 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On May 6, 2021 at 00:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 141 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -8.9650°, 157.7951°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 14 days ago 147 km SE of Gizo, 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.
Earthquake Details
157.7951°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Gizo, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 141 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands on May 6, 2021 at 00:37 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -8.9650°, 157.7951°, which is 141 km SE of Gizo, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 147 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000e2dc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 6, 2021). M4.9 Earthquake 141 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands — May 6, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000e2dc/