M5.3 Earthquake 157 km ENE of Georgetown, Saint Helena — December 9, 2022
2022-12-09 17:08:25 UTC (2022-12-09) · approx. 4:08 PM UTC-1 local
On December 9, 2022 at 17:08 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 157 km ENE of Georgetown, Saint Helena, at a depth of 6.5 km and coordinates -7.1698°, -13.2076°. This earthquake was detected by 124 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-13.2076°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Georgetown, Saint Helena?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 157 km ENE of Georgetown, Saint Helena on December 9, 2022 at 17:08 UTC had a depth of 6.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -7.1698°, -13.2076°, which is 157 km ENE of Georgetown, Saint Helena.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000j878). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 9, 2022). M5.3 Earthquake 157 km ENE of Georgetown, Saint Helena — December 9, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000j878/