M4.8 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — January 11, 2024
2024-01-11 16:27:27 UTC (2024-01-11) · approx. 4:27 AM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On January 11, 2024 at 16:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 40.4 km and coordinates -28.2726°, -176.7023°. This earthquake was detected by 30 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 10 days ago in the Kermadec Islands region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 11 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-176.7023°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on January 11, 2024 at 16:27 UTC had a depth of 40.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -28.2726°, -176.7023°, which is in the Kermadec Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Kermadec Islands region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m35f). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, January 11, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — January 11, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m35f/