M4.3 Earthquake 162 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia — January 18, 2023
2023-01-18 23:10:22 UTC (2023-01-18) · approx. 7:10 AM UTC+8 local
On January 18, 2023 at 23:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 162 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 42.9 km and coordinates 2.6671°, 126.8865°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 17 days ago 161 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
126.8865°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 162 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia on January 18, 2023 at 23:10 UTC had a depth of 42.9 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 161 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jjf5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 18, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 162 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia — January 18, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jjf5/