5.0

M5.0 Earthquake near Molucca SeaApril 11, 2023

2023-04-11 09:31:10 UTC (2023-04-11) · approx. 5:31 PM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mb)
Time09:31 UTC5:31 PM UTC+8
Depth43.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates2.058°, 126.590°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 11, 2023 at 09:31 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Molucca Sea, at a depth of 43.6 km and coordinates 2.0579°, 126.5897°. This earthquake was detected by 129 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 2.06°, 126.59°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mb
Depth
43.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
2.0579°N
126.5897°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000k3gk
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
129
Azimuthal Gap
81.0°
Min Station Distance
1.495°
RMS Residual
0.53 sec
Last Updated
2023-06-17 21:36:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Molucca Sea?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck near Molucca Sea on April 11, 2023 at 09:31 UTC had a depth of 43.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 2.0579°, 126.5897°, which is near Molucca Sea.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000k3gk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, April 11, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake near Molucca SeaApril 11, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k3gk/