M4.0 Earthquake 133 km E of Hicks Bay, New Zealand — September 22, 2023
2023-09-22 21:29:43 UTC (2023-09-22) · approx. 9:29 AM UTC+12 local
On September 22, 2023 at 21:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 133 km E of Hicks Bay, New Zealand, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -37.4663°, 179.7973°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
179.7973°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Hicks Bay, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 133 km E of Hicks Bay, New Zealand on September 22, 2023 at 21:29 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lb5g). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 22, 2023). M4.0 Earthquake 133 km E of Hicks Bay, New Zealand — September 22, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lb5g/