4.2

M4.2 Earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan regionOctober 18, 2023

2023-10-18 20:09:45 UTC (2023-10-18) · approx. 6:09 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time20:09 UTC6:09 AM UTC+10
Depth14.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates28.744°, 142.513°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 18, 2023 at 20:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Bonin Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 14.2 km and coordinates 28.7435°, 142.5128°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 28.74°, 142.51°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
14.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
28.7435°N
142.5128°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000lhim
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
25
Azimuthal Gap
203.0°
Min Station Distance
1.667°
RMS Residual
0.62 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-26 21:24:56 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan region?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Bonin Islands, Japan region on October 18, 2023 at 20:09 UTC had a depth of 14.2 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lhim). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 18, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake in the Bonin Islands, Japan regionOctober 18, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lhim/