M5.0 Earthquake 58 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands — February 25, 2023
2023-02-25 18:25:48 UTC (2023-02-25) · approx. 5:25 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On February 25, 2023 at 18:25 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 58 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 33.4 km and coordinates -11.2217°, 165.6226°. This earthquake was detected by 65 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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 4 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
165.6226°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Lata, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 58 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands on February 25, 2023 at 18:25 UTC had a depth of 33.4 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -11.2217°, 165.6226°, which is 58 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 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: us7000jh3x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, February 25, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 58 km SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands — February 25, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jh3x/