M4.5 Earthquake 115 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji — December 25, 2023
2023-12-25 20:34:20 UTC (2023-12-25) · approx. 8:34 AM UTC+12 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On December 25, 2023 at 20:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 115 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -16.7457°, 176.8581°. This earthquake was detected by 17 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 28 days ago 127 km NW of Lautoka, Fiji. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 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 Fiji, a region characterized by the Fiji Fracture Zone at the junction of the Pacific and Australian plates, with deep-focus seismicity from the subducted slab. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
176.8581°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Lautoka, Fiji?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 115 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji on December 25, 2023 at 20:34 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.7457°, 176.8581°, which is 115 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 127 km NW of Lautoka, Fiji. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m1tg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 25, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 115 km NNW of Lautoka, Fiji — December 25, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m1tg/