4.8

M4.8 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsSeptember 23, 2024

2024-09-23 03:07:42 UTC (2024-09-23) · approx. 3:07 PM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.8(mb)
Time03:07 UTC3:07 PM UTC+12
Depth518.5 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-26.123°, 179.115°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 23, 2024 at 03:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 deep-focus earthquake struck south of the Fiji Islands, at a depth of 518.5 km and coordinates -26.1234°, 179.1151°. This earthquake was detected by 41 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.

The epicenter is located in Fiji, a region characterized by the Fiji Fracture Zone at the junction of the Pacific and Australian plates, with deep-focus seismicity from the subducted slab. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -26.12°, 179.12°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.8 mb
Depth
518.5 km
deep-focus
Location
-26.1234°N
179.1151°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000ntsp
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
354
Stations Used
41
Azimuthal Gap
82.0°
Min Station Distance
4.067°
RMS Residual
0.73 sec
Last Updated
2024-12-06 19:30:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake south of the Fiji Islands?

The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck south of the Fiji Islands on September 23, 2024 at 03:07 UTC had a depth of 518.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -26.1234°, 179.1151°, which is south of the Fiji Islands. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ntsp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, September 23, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsSeptember 23, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ntsp/