M4.7 Earthquake 115 km S of Akureyri, Iceland — March 18, 2024
2024-03-18 00:45:47 UTC (2024-03-18) · approx. 11:45 PM UTC-1 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On March 18, 2024 at 00:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 115 km S of Akureyri, Iceland, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 64.6558°, -17.7271°. This earthquake was detected by 157 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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 12 days ago 109 km S of Akureyri, Iceland. 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 Iceland, a region characterized by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates diverge at 18-25 mm per year, amplified by the Iceland mantle plume. The nearest mapped fault system is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-17.7271°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Akureyri, Iceland?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 115 km S of Akureyri, Iceland on March 18, 2024 at 00:45 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 64.6558°, -17.7271°, which is 115 km S of Akureyri, Iceland. View all earthquakes in Iceland.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 109 km S of Akureyri, Iceland. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Iceland had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Iceland was the M6.6 South Iceland earthquake of June 17, 2000. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mjim). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 18, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake 115 km S of Akureyri, Iceland — March 18, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mjim/