4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 35 km S of Massawa, EritreaAugust 2, 2023

2023-08-02 20:33:12 UTC (2023-08-02) · approx. 11:33 PM UTC+3 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time20:33 UTC11:33 PM UTC+3
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates15.290°, 39.437°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 2, 2023 at 20:33 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 35 km S of Massawa, Eritrea, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 15.2895°, 39.4368°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 15.29°, 39.44°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
15.2895°N
39.4368°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000kxe0
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
46
Azimuthal Gap
82.0°
Min Station Distance
4.996°
RMS Residual
0.73 sec
Last Updated
2023-10-07 21:38:56 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Massawa, Eritrea?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 35 km S of Massawa, Eritrea on August 2, 2023 at 20:33 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kxe0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 2, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 35 km S of Massawa, EritreaAugust 2, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kxe0/