M4.9 Earthquake 43 km WSW of Grindavík, Iceland — October 16, 2022
2022-10-16 23:36:48 UTC (2022-10-16) · approx. 9:36 PM UTC-2 local
On October 16, 2022 at 23:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 43 km WSW of Grindavík, Iceland, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 63.6870°, -23.2428°. This earthquake was detected by 45 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 Iceland, a region characterized by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates diverge at 18-25 mm per year, amplified by the Iceland mantle plume. The nearest mapped fault system is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-23.2428°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Grindavík, Iceland?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 43 km WSW of Grindavík, Iceland on October 16, 2022 at 23:36 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 63.6870°, -23.2428°, which is 43 km WSW of Grindavík, Iceland. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
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 Iceland had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Iceland was the M6.6 South Iceland earthquake of June 17, 2000. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ivab). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 16, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 43 km WSW of Grindavík, Iceland — October 16, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ivab/