M4.7 Earthquake 140 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands — December 14, 2024
2024-12-14 00:37:25 UTC (2024-12-14) · approx. 11:37 AM UTC+11 local
On December 14, 2024 at 00:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 140 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -11.9675°, 166.0578°. This earthquake was detected by 32 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.
Earthquake Details
166.0578°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Lata, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 140 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands on December 14, 2024 at 00:37 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -11.9675°, 166.0578°, which is 140 km SSE 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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nyr2). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 14, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake 140 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands — December 14, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nyr2/