M5.0 Earthquake 122 km SE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal — September 29, 2023
2023-09-29 19:05:45 UTC (2023-09-29) · approx. 5:05 PM UTC-2 local
On September 29, 2023 at 19:05 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 122 km SE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal, at a depth of 14.1 km and coordinates 38.4809°, -30.3470°. This earthquake was detected by 257 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-30.3470°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Lajes das Flores, Portugal?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 122 km SE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal on September 29, 2023 at 19:05 UTC had a depth of 14.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.4809°, -30.3470°, which is 122 km SE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lbs5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 29, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 122 km SE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal — September 29, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lbs5/