4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 160 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia — September 19, 2020

2020-09-19 18:46:51 UTC (2020-09-19) · approx. 2:46 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time18:46 UTC≈ 2:46 AM UTC+8
Depth40.1 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates2.444°, 126.758°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 19, 2020 at 18:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 160 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 40.1 km and coordinates 2.4442°, 126.7581°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 2.44°, 126.76°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
40.1 km
shallow crustal
Location
2.4442°N
126.7581°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000c0ib
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Azimuthal Gap
118.0°
Min Station Distance
1.769°
RMS Residual
0.52 sec
Last Updated
2020-11-28 21:31:54 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 160 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia on September 19, 2020 at 18:46 UTC had a depth of 40.1 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000c0ib). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 19, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake 160 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia — September 19, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c0ib/