M4.9 Earthquake 93 km S of Matavai, Samoa — September 17, 2024
2024-09-17 03:11:54 UTC (2024-09-17) · approx. 4:11 PM UTC-11 local
On September 17, 2024 at 03:11 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 93 km S of Matavai, Samoa, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -14.8737°, -171.7522°. This earthquake was detected by 35 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-171.7522°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Matavai, Samoa?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 93 km S of Matavai, Samoa on September 17, 2024 at 03:11 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 -14.8737°, -171.7522°, which is 93 km S of Matavai, Samoa.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000nt2f). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, September 17, 2024). M4.9 Earthquake 93 km S of Matavai, Samoa — September 17, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000nt2f/