M4.5 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — May 15, 2023
2023-05-15 13:21:57 UTC (2023-05-15) · approx. 1:21 AM UTC-12 local
On May 15, 2023 at 13:21 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 62.0 km and coordinates -31.6239°, -178.6060°. This earthquake was detected by 25 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-178.6060°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on May 15, 2023 at 13:21 UTC had a depth of 62.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -31.6239°, -178.6060°, which is in the Kermadec Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kc1b). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 15, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — May 15, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kc1b/