M5.2 Earthquake 204 km W of Abepura, Indonesia — November 17, 2023
2023-11-17 03:02:18 UTC (2023-11-17) · approx. 12:02 PM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On November 17, 2023 at 03:02 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 204 km W of Abepura, Indonesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -2.4108°, 138.8023°. This earthquake was detected by 64 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred 23 days ago 201 km W of Abepura, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 25 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
138.8023°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Abepura, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 204 km W of Abepura, Indonesia on November 17, 2023 at 03:02 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -2.4108°, 138.8023°, which is 204 km W of Abepura, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 201 km W of Abepura, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lp0d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 17, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake 204 km W of Abepura, Indonesia — November 17, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lp0d/