4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 125 km W of Ternate, Indonesia — August 4, 2021

2021-08-04 18:29:08 UTC (2021-08-04) · approx. 2:29 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time18:29 UTC≈ 2:29 AM UTC+8
Depth22.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates0.905°, 126.258°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 4, 2021 at 18:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 125 km W of Ternate, Indonesia, at a depth of 22.9 km and coordinates 0.9052°, 126.2584°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 7 days ago 132 km E of Bitung, Indonesia. 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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 0.91°, 126.26°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
22.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
0.9052°N
126.2584°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000f4jf
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Azimuthal Gap
64.0°
Min Station Distance
1.116°
RMS Residual
0.71 sec
Last Updated
2021-10-14 01:09:35 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Ternate, Indonesia?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 125 km W of Ternate, Indonesia on August 4, 2021 at 18:29 UTC had a depth of 22.9 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 132 km E of Bitung, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000f4jf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, August 4, 2021). M4.4 Earthquake 125 km W of Ternate, Indonesia — August 4, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000f4jf/