M4.7 Earthquake 150 km NNW of Caluula, Somalia — December 15, 2021
2021-12-15 17:33:23 UTC (2021-12-15) · approx. 8:33 PM UTC+3 local
Aftershock of the M6.0 mainshock.
On December 15, 2021 at 17:33 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 150 km NNW of Caluula, Somalia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 13.2657°, 50.3363°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — 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 6.0 mainshock that occurred 20 days ago 145 km N of Caluula, Somalia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
50.3363°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Caluula, Somalia?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 150 km NNW of Caluula, Somalia on December 15, 2021 at 17:33 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 13.2657°, 50.3363°, which is 150 km NNW of Caluula, Somalia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 145 km N of Caluula, Somalia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gch1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 15, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake 150 km NNW of Caluula, Somalia — December 15, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gch1/