M4.8 Earthquake 78 km NNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — March 15, 2023
2023-03-15 19:20:04 UTC (2023-03-15) · approx. 6:20 AM UTC+11 local
On March 15, 2023 at 19:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 78 km NNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 10.6 km and coordinates -9.7865°, 161.6673°. This earthquake was detected by 60 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
161.6673°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 78 km NNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on March 15, 2023 at 19:20 UTC had a depth of 10.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -9.7865°, 161.6673°, which is 78 km NNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jk7j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 15, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 78 km NNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jk7j/