M4.9 Earthquake 141 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan — October 20, 2022
2022-10-20 12:29:51 UTC (2022-10-20) · approx. 8:29 PM UTC+8 local
On October 20, 2022 at 12:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 141 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 20.8270°, 120.2179°. This earthquake was detected by 75 seismic stations with good 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 Taiwan, a region characterized by the collision of the Luzon volcanic arc with the Eurasian continental margin, where the Philippine Sea Plate converges at 80 mm per year. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
120.2179°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Hengchun, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 141 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan on October 20, 2022 at 12:29 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 20.8270°, 120.2179°, which is 141 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
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 Taiwan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Taiwan was the M7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake of September 21, 1999. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000iv6k). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 20, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 141 km SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan — October 20, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000iv6k/