M4.9 Earthquake 36 km SW of Kýthira, Greece — April 27, 2022
2022-04-27 01:51:53 UTC (2022-04-27) · approx. 3:51 AM UTC+2 local
On April 27, 2022 at 01:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 36 km SW of Kýthira, Greece, at a depth of 58.4 km and coordinates 35.9623°, 22.6525°. This earthquake was detected by 149 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Greece, a region characterized by the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African Plate subducts northward beneath the Aegean at roughly 35 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Hellenic Trench. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
22.6525°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kýthira, Greece?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 36 km SW of Kýthira, Greece on April 27, 2022 at 01:51 UTC had a depth of 58.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 35.9623°, 22.6525°, which is 36 km SW of Kýthira, Greece. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Greece had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Greece was the M8.5 Crete earthquake of June 29, 1303. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000hgkt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, April 27, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 36 km SW of Kýthira, Greece — April 27, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000hgkt/