M4.6 Earthquake 248 km E of Levuka, Fiji — December 28, 2021
2021-12-28 17:34:34 UTC (2021-12-28) · approx. 5:34 AM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On December 28, 2021 at 17:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 deep-focus earthquake struck 248 km E of Levuka, Fiji, at a depth of 579.9 km and coordinates -18.1003°, -178.3317°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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 5.4 mainshock that occurred 28 days ago 213 km E of Levuka, Fiji. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Fiji, a region characterized by the Fiji Fracture Zone at the junction of the Pacific and Australian plates, with deep-focus seismicity from the subducted slab. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-178.3317°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Levuka, Fiji?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 248 km E of Levuka, Fiji on December 28, 2021 at 17:34 UTC had a depth of 579.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -18.1003°, -178.3317°, which is 248 km E of Levuka, Fiji. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 213 km E of Levuka, Fiji. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gfwa). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 28, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 248 km E of Levuka, Fiji — December 28, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gfwa/