M4.0 Earthquake 268 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste — July 29, 2020
2020-07-29 22:41:07 UTC (2020-07-29) · approx. 7:41 AM UTC+9 local
On July 29, 2020 at 22:41 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 268 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste, at a depth of 163.1 km and coordinates -7.0463°, 128.9293°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred 29 days ago 254 km ENE of Lospalos, Timor Leste. 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
128.9293°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Lospalos, Timor Leste?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 268 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste on July 29, 2020 at 22:41 UTC had a depth of 163.1 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 254 km ENE of Lospalos, Timor Leste. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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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: us6000b98q). 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 268 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste — July 29, 2020. Retrieved October 10, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000b98q/