M4.8 Earthquake 92 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands — September 20, 2026
2026-09-20 12:24:22 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 11:24 PM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On September 20, 2026 at 12:24 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 92 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands, at a depth of 33.9 km and coordinates -10.6446°, 164.9562°. This earthquake was detected by 38 seismic stations with good 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 27 days ago 126 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
164.9562°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Lata, Solomon Islands?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 92 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands on September 20, 2026 at 12:24 UTC had a depth of 33.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.6446°, 164.9562°, which is 92 km W of Lata, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 126 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tirf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 20, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 92 km W of Lata, Solomon Islands — September 20, 2026. Retrieved September 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tirf/