M4.6 Earthquake 30 km NNW of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia — March 21, 2022
2022-03-21 19:26:19 UTC (2022-03-21) · approx. 3:26 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On March 21, 2022 at 19:26 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 30 km NNW of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -8.2450°, 119.7792°.
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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 17 days ago 54 km NNE of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 13 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 Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
119.7792°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Labuan Bajo, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 30 km NNW of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on March 21, 2022 at 19:26 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 -8.2450°, 119.7792°, which is 30 km NNW of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
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 M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 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.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000h6i0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, March 21, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake 30 km NNW of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia — March 21, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000h6i0/