M4.2 Earthquake 282 km NW of Nagqu, China — October 16, 2020
2020-10-16 20:32:32 UTC (2020-10-16) · approx. 2:32 AM UTC+6 local
On October 16, 2020 at 20:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 282 km NW of Nagqu, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 33.3981°, 90.0814°.
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.
Earthquake Details
90.0814°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Nagqu, China?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 282 km NW of Nagqu, China on October 16, 2020 at 20:32 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000caqq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 16, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake 282 km NW of Nagqu, China — October 16, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000caqq/