4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 172 km S of Mukalla, Yemen — May 31, 2021

2021-05-31 18:05:09 UTC (2021-05-31) · approx. 9:05 PM UTC+3 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time18:05 UTC≈ 9:05 PM UTC+3
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates13.009°, 49.436°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 31, 2021 at 18:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 172 km S of Mukalla, Yemen, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 13.0091°, 49.4358°.

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 13.01°, 49.44°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
13.0091°N
49.4358°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000egdm
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Azimuthal Gap
144.0°
Min Station Distance
6.605°
RMS Residual
0.71 sec
Last Updated
2021-08-07 22:06:44 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Mukalla, Yemen?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 172 km S of Mukalla, Yemen on May 31, 2021 at 18:05 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.

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: us6000egdm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 31, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake 172 km S of Mukalla, Yemen — May 31, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000egdm/