M4.9 Earthquake 44 km NW of Fais, Micronesia — August 21, 2020
2020-08-21 12:35:29 UTC (2020-08-21) · approx. 9:35 PM UTC+9 local
On August 21, 2020 at 12:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 44 km NW of Fais, Micronesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 10.0274°, 140.2118°.
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.
Earthquake Details
140.2118°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Fais, Micronesia?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 44 km NW of Fais, Micronesia on August 21, 2020 at 12:35 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 10.0274°, 140.2118°, which is 44 km NW of Fais, Micronesia.
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.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bicy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 21, 2020). M4.9 Earthquake 44 km NW of Fais, Micronesia — August 21, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bicy/