M5.1 Earthquake 36 km SE of Kupang, Indonesia — January 5, 2021
2021-01-05 11:56:18 UTC (2021-01-05) · approx. 7:56 PM UTC+8 local
On January 5, 2021 at 11:56 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 36 km SE of Kupang, Indonesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -10.4267°, 123.8207°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
123.8207°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Kupang, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 36 km SE of Kupang, Indonesia on January 5, 2021 at 11:56 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -10.4267°, 123.8207°, which is 36 km SE of Kupang, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d5r8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 5, 2021). M5.1 Earthquake 36 km SE of Kupang, Indonesia — January 5, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d5r8/