M4.1 Earthquake in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region — February 16, 2023
2023-02-16 21:24:26 UTC (2023-02-16) · approx. 8:24 AM UTC+11 local
On February 16, 2023 at 21:24 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region, at a depth of 17.0 km and coordinates -49.5277°, 163.8152°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 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 28 days ago in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region. 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
163.8152°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region on February 16, 2023 at 21:24 UTC had a depth of 17.0 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 4.1 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 4.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jr8x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, February 16, 2023). M4.1 Earthquake in the Auckland Islands, New Zealand region — February 16, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jr8x/