M4.8 Earthquake 130 km E of Bitung, Indonesia — January 16, 2024
2024-01-16 18:03:50 UTC (2024-01-16) · approx. 2:03 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.7 mainshock.
On January 16, 2024 at 18:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 130 km E of Bitung, Indonesia, at a depth of 25.0 km and coordinates 1.3347°, 126.2949°. This earthquake was detected by 103 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 5.7 mainshock that occurred 14 days ago 127 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia. 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 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
126.2949°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Bitung, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 130 km E of Bitung, Indonesia on January 16, 2024 at 18:03 UTC had a depth of 25.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 1.3347°, 126.2949°, which is 130 km E of Bitung, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
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 M5.7 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.7 mainshock that occurred earlier 127 km NW of Ternate, 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m42g). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, January 16, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake 130 km E of Bitung, Indonesia — January 16, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m42g/