M4.5 Earthquake near Molucca Sea — January 22, 2023
2023-01-22 22:50:51 UTC (2023-01-22) · approx. 6:50 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On January 22, 2023 at 22:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Molucca Sea, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 2.6826°, 127.0214°. This earthquake was detected by 21 seismic stations with good 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 5.3 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
127.0214°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Molucca Sea?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck near Molucca Sea on January 22, 2023 at 22:50 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 2.6826°, 127.0214°, which is near Molucca Sea.
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 M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 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.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jkbx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 22, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake near Molucca Sea — January 22, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jkbx/