4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 72 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia — January 23, 2023

2023-01-23 21:55:10 UTC (2023-01-23) · approx. 5:55 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:55 UTC≈ 5:55 AM UTC+8
Depth110.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates1.859°, 127.367°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 23, 2023 at 21:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 72 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 110.9 km and coordinates 1.8588°, 127.3671°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 1.86°, 127.37°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
110.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
1.8588°N
127.3671°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000jly0
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
45
Azimuthal Gap
161.0°
Min Station Distance
1.080°
RMS Residual
0.53 sec
Last Updated
2023-04-11 18:51:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 72 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia on January 23, 2023 at 21:55 UTC had a depth of 110.9 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jly0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 23, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 72 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia — January 23, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jly0/