M4.9 Earthquake 177 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — June 3, 2020
2020-06-03 23:40:53 UTC (2020-06-03) · approx. 11:40 AM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On June 3, 2020 at 23:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 177 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -14.3914°, -174.9840°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 189 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna. 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
-174.9840°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 177 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna on June 3, 2020 at 23:40 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.3914°, -174.9840°, which is 177 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 189 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000a5kc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, June 3, 2020). M4.9 Earthquake 177 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — June 3, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000a5kc/