M4.5 Earthquake 38 km WSW of Yongchuan, China — December 14, 2022
2022-12-14 23:18:23 UTC (2022-12-14) · approx. 6:18 AM UTC+7 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On December 14, 2022 at 23:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 38 km WSW of Yongchuan, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 29.2775°, 105.5104°. This earthquake was detected by 54 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 8 days ago 19 km NW of Fuji, China. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
105.5104°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Yongchuan, China?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 38 km WSW of Yongchuan, China on December 14, 2022 at 23:18 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 29.2775°, 105.5104°, which is 38 km WSW of Yongchuan, China.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 19 km NW of Fuji, China. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000j9a3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 14, 2022). M4.5 Earthquake 38 km WSW of Yongchuan, China — December 14, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000j9a3/