M5.0 Earthquake 57 km SSW of Buala, Solomon Islands — March 21, 2025
2025-03-21 19:28:19 UTC (2025-03-21) · approx. 6:28 AM UTC+11 local
On March 21, 2025 at 19:28 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 57 km SSW of Buala, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -8.6014°, 159.3407°. This earthquake was detected by 165 seismic stations with excellent 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.
Earthquake Details
159.3407°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Buala, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 57 km SSW of Buala, Solomon Islands on March 21, 2025 at 19:28 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -8.6014°, 159.3407°, which is 57 km SSW of Buala, 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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000plq1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 21, 2025). M5.0 Earthquake 57 km SSW of Buala, Solomon Islands — March 21, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000plq1/