M4.9 Earthquake 43 km N of Kilimatinde, Tanzania — February 16, 2023
2023-02-16 15:13:54 UTC (2023-02-16) · approx. 5:13 PM UTC+2 local
On February 16, 2023 at 15:13 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 43 km N of Kilimatinde, Tanzania, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -5.4577°, 35.0044°. This earthquake was detected by 92 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
35.0044°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kilimatinde, Tanzania?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 43 km N of Kilimatinde, Tanzania on February 16, 2023 at 15:13 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 -5.4577°, 35.0044°, which is 43 km N of Kilimatinde, Tanzania.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jpe3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, February 16, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 43 km N of Kilimatinde, Tanzania — February 16, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jpe3/