5.3

M5.3 Earthquake 151 km WNW of Tobelo, IndonesiaApril 30, 2024

2024-04-30 13:52:40 UTC (2024-04-30) · approx. 9:52 PM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM5.3(mww)
Time13:52 UTC9:52 PM UTC+8
Depth20.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates2.300°, 126.767°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 30, 2024 at 13:52 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 151 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 20.0 km and coordinates 2.2997°, 126.7670°. This earthquake was detected by 249 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 2.30°, 126.77°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.3 mww
Depth
20.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
2.2997°N
126.7670°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000mv6r
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
432
Stations Used
249
Azimuthal Gap
18.0°
Min Station Distance
4.884°
RMS Residual
0.79 sec
Last Updated
2024-07-15 03:58:45 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?

The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 151 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia on April 30, 2024 at 13:52 UTC had a depth of 20.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 2.2997°, 126.7670°, which is 151 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mv6r). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 30, 2024). M5.3 Earthquake 151 km WNW of Tobelo, IndonesiaApril 30, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mv6r/