M4.5 Earthquake 111 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — May 1, 2023
2023-05-01 23:00:30 UTC (2023-05-01) · approx. 10:00 AM UTC+11 local
On May 1, 2023 at 23:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 111 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 69.8 km and coordinates -10.0255°, 161.0033°. This earthquake was detected by 39 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
161.0033°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Kirakira, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 111 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands on May 1, 2023 at 23:00 UTC had a depth of 69.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.0255°, 161.0033°, which is 111 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jxf1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 1, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 111 km WNW of Kirakira, Solomon Islands — May 1, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jxf1/