M4.7 Earthquake 62 km S of Ierápetra, Greece — August 14, 2020
2020-08-14 17:48:53 UTC (2020-08-14) · approx. 7:48 PM UTC+2 local
On August 14, 2020 at 17:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 62 km S of Ierápetra, Greece, at a depth of 17.3 km and coordinates 34.4538°, 25.8256°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Greece, a region characterized by the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African Plate subducts northward beneath the Aegean at roughly 35 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Hellenic Trench. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
25.8256°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Ierápetra, Greece?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 62 km S of Ierápetra, Greece on August 14, 2020 at 17:48 UTC had a depth of 17.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 34.4538°, 25.8256°, which is 62 km S of Ierápetra, Greece. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Greece had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Greece was the M8.5 Crete earthquake of June 29, 1303. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bevr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 14, 2020). M4.7 Earthquake 62 km S of Ierápetra, Greece — August 14, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bevr/