4.3

M4.3 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands regionMarch 23, 2023

2023-03-23 18:18:12 UTC (2023-03-23) · approx. 6:18 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time18:18 UTC6:18 AM UTC-12
Depth9.5 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-31.618°, -179.118°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 23, 2023 at 18:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 9.5 km and coordinates -31.6176°, -179.1180°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -31.62°, -179.12°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
9.5 km
shallow crustal
Location
-31.6176°N
-179.1180°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000k0d4
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Stations Used
28
Azimuthal Gap
134.0°
Min Station Distance
2.566°
RMS Residual
0.65 sec
Last Updated
2023-05-26 21:54:01 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on March 23, 2023 at 18:18 UTC had a depth of 9.5 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000k0d4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 23, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands regionMarch 23, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k0d4/