M4.5 Earthquake near Flores Sea — December 18, 2021
2021-12-18 21:05:59 UTC (2021-12-18) · approx. 5:05 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On December 18, 2021 at 21:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Flores Sea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -7.9358°, 119.7205°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 54 km NNE of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 5 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
119.7205°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Flores Sea?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck near Flores Sea on December 18, 2021 at 21:05 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 -7.9358°, 119.7205°, which is near Flores Sea.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 54 km NNE of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gekj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 18, 2021). M4.5 Earthquake near Flores Sea — December 18, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gekj/