M4.3 Earthquake in the Guam region — February 5, 2021
2021-02-05 19:12:29 UTC (2021-02-05) · approx. 5:12 AM UTC+10 local
On February 5, 2021 at 19:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Guam region, at a depth of 19.0 km and coordinates 12.1001°, 143.7773°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 163 km SW of Merizo Village, Guam. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
143.7773°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake in the Guam region?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck in the Guam region on February 5, 2021 at 19:12 UTC had a depth of 19.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 163 km SW of Merizo Village, Guam. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dgzp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, February 5, 2021). M4.3 Earthquake in the Guam region — February 5, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dgzp/