M3.2 Earthquake 46 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii — March 26, 2023
2023-03-26 20:36:29 UTC (2023-03-26) · approx. 10:36 AM UTC-10 local
On March 26, 2023 at 20:36 UTC, a magnitude 3.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 46 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii, at a depth of 9.9 km and coordinates 18.8742°, -155.1915°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 858 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 93 m — 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 20 days ago 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 22 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Earthquake Details
-155.1915°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.2 earthquake near Naalehu, Hawaii?
The magnitude 3.2 earthquake that struck 46 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii on March 26, 2023 at 20:36 UTC had a depth of 9.9 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.2 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 3.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 42 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.2 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: hv73349872). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 26, 2023). M3.2 Earthquake 46 km ESE of Naalehu, Hawaii — March 26, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/hv73349872/