4.2

M4.2 Earthquake near Papua, IndonesiaMay 6, 2023

2023-05-06 23:01:01 UTC (2023-05-06) · approx. 8:01 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time23:01 UTC8:01 AM UTC+9
Depth151.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-4.423°, 138.477°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 6, 2023 at 23:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Papua, Indonesia, at a depth of 151.0 km and coordinates -4.4231°, 138.4768°.

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 -4.42°, 138.48°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
151.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
-4.4231°N
138.4768°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000ka3v
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
40
Azimuthal Gap
123.0°
Min Station Distance
6.392°
RMS Residual
0.66 sec
Last Updated
2023-07-15 22:10:13 UTC

Common Questions

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

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck near Papua, Indonesia on May 6, 2023 at 23:01 UTC had a depth of 151.0 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 4.2 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: us6000ka3v). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 6, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake near Papua, IndonesiaMay 6, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ka3v/