M5.2 Earthquake in the Palau region — January 2, 2021
2021-01-02 20:35:57 UTC (2021-01-02) · approx. 5:35 AM UTC+9 local
On January 2, 2021 at 20:35 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Palau region, at a depth of 15.1 km and coordinates 4.3322°, 138.0207°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
138.0207°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake in the Palau region?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck in the Palau region on January 2, 2021 at 20:35 UTC had a depth of 15.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 4.3322°, 138.0207°, which is in the Palau region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d533). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 2, 2021). M5.2 Earthquake in the Palau region — January 2, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d533/