Shallow M5.7 earthquake hits Solomon Islands

A shallow M5.7 earthquake struck 33 km (21 miles) northeast of Auki, Solomon Islands, at 15:17 UTC on May 16, 2026. The hypocenter was determined to be 23.4 km (14.5 miles) beneath the surface.

The event was located at 8.6°S, 160.9°E, placing it inland on the island of Malaita, northeast of the provincial capital Auki. This region is part of the central Solomon Islands group in the southwestern Pacific.

In this area near Auki, typical critical infrastructure may include the port of Auki, regional highways, inter-island ferry services, and small airstrips serving local populations.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity is VI. The significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The Solomon Islands are situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a tectonically active zone where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Indo-Australian Plate, resulting in frequent seismic activity and occasional tsunamis.

This information was last updated at 15:45 UTC on May 16, 2026.