M4.0 Earthquake 13 km NNW of Whakatane, New Zealand — July 29, 2020
2020-07-29 18:41:14 UTC (2020-07-29) · approx. 6:41 AM UTC+12 local
On July 29, 2020 at 18:41 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 13 km NNW of Whakatane, New Zealand, at a depth of 155.7 km and coordinates -37.8469°, 176.9142°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
176.9142°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Whakatane, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 13 km NNW of Whakatane, New Zealand on July 29, 2020 at 18:41 UTC had a depth of 155.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000b98c). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 29, 2020). M4.0 Earthquake 13 km NNW of Whakatane, New Zealand — July 29, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000b98c/