M4.7 Earthquake 35 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands — January 16, 2023
2023-01-16 21:30:07 UTC (2023-01-16) · approx. 8:30 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On January 16, 2023 at 21:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 35 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 11.0 km and coordinates -10.8952°, 166.0671°. This earthquake was detected by 59 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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 5 days ago 19 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 3 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
166.0671°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Lata, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 35 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands on January 16, 2023 at 21:30 UTC had a depth of 11.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.8952°, 166.0671°, which is 35 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 19 km WSW of Lata, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j4sf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 16, 2023). M4.7 Earthquake 35 km ESE of Lata, Solomon Islands — January 16, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j4sf/