4.2

M4.2 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsOctober 24, 2021

2021-10-24 19:47:10 UTC (2021-10-24) · approx. 7:47 AM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time19:47 UTC7:47 AM UTC+12
Depth588.1 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-21.842°, 179.981°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 24, 2021 at 19:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck south of the Fiji Islands, at a depth of 588.1 km and coordinates -21.8416°, 179.9808°.

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 -21.84°, 179.98°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
588.1 km
deep-focus
Location
-21.8416°N
179.9808°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000fx9k
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Azimuthal Gap
86.0°
Min Station Distance
4.461°
RMS Residual
0.89 sec
Last Updated
2022-01-08 17:42:21 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake south of the Fiji Islands?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck south of the Fiji Islands on October 24, 2021 at 19:47 UTC had a depth of 588.1 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: us6000fx9k). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, October 24, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsOctober 24, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000fx9k/