4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 176 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and FutunaDecember 9, 2022

2022-12-09 19:04:18 UTC (2022-12-09) · approx. 7:04 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time19:04 UTC7:04 AM UTC-12
Depth417.1 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-15.835°, -177.630°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 9, 2022 at 19:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 deep-focus earthquake struck 176 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna, at a depth of 417.1 km and coordinates -15.8346°, -177.6298°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -15.83°, -177.63°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
417.1 km
deep-focus
Location
-15.8346°N
-177.6298°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000j883
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
157
Azimuthal Gap
51.0°
Min Station Distance
1.590°
RMS Residual
0.67 sec
Last Updated
2024-01-18 17:33:40 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Alo, Wallis and Futuna?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 176 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and Futuna on December 9, 2022 at 19:04 UTC had a depth of 417.1 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000j883). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 9, 2022). M4.4 Earthquake 176 km SSE of Alo, Wallis and FutunaDecember 9, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000j883/