4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 250 km E of Levuka, FijiOctober 17, 2022

2022-10-17 21:05:49 UTC (2022-10-17) · approx. 9:05 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time21:05 UTC9:05 AM UTC-12
Depth595.6 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-17.994°, -178.322°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 17, 2022 at 21:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 250 km E of Levuka, Fiji, at a depth of 595.6 km and coordinates -17.9941°, -178.3217°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 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 18 days ago 216 km E of Levuka, Fiji. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 5 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -17.99°, -178.32°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
595.6 km
deep-focus
Location
-17.9941°N
-178.3217°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000ivir
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
32
Azimuthal Gap
85.0°
Min Station Distance
4.156°
RMS Residual
0.43 sec
Last Updated
2022-12-31 23:03:47 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Levuka, Fiji?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 250 km E of Levuka, Fiji on October 17, 2022 at 21:05 UTC had a depth of 595.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.1 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 4.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 216 km E of Levuka, Fiji. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ivir). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 17, 2022). M4.1 Earthquake 250 km E of Levuka, FijiOctober 17, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ivir/