M4.2 Earthquake 53 km ESE of Greymouth, New Zealand — May 16, 2023
2023-05-16 20:39:16 UTC (2023-05-16) · approx. 7:39 AM UTC+11 local
On May 16, 2023 at 20:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 53 km ESE of Greymouth, New Zealand, at a depth of 15.5 km and coordinates -42.6047°, 171.8198°.
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.
Earthquake Details
171.8198°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Greymouth, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 53 km ESE of Greymouth, New Zealand on May 16, 2023 at 20:39 UTC had a depth of 15.5 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kcdw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 16, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 53 km ESE of Greymouth, New Zealand — May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kcdw/