M4.2 Earthquake 205 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia — July 31, 2023
2023-07-31 14:36:50 UTC (2023-07-31) · approx. 10:36 PM UTC+8 local
On July 31, 2023 at 14:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 205 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia, at a depth of 22.8 km and coordinates 0.9001°, 119.4481°.
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
119.4481°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Palu, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 205 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia on July 31, 2023 at 14:36 UTC had a depth of 22.8 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.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kzde). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 31, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 205 km NNW of Palu, Indonesia — July 31, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kzde/