M4.8 Earthquake 180 km SSW of Lajes das Flores, Portugal — October 5, 2024
2024-10-05 12:08:13 UTC (2024-10-05) · approx. 10:08 AM UTC-2 local
On October 5, 2024 at 12:08 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 180 km SSW of Lajes das Flores, Portugal, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 37.7942°, -31.6355°. This earthquake was detected by 60 seismic stations with good 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.
Earthquake Details
-31.6355°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Lajes das Flores, Portugal?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 180 km SSW of Lajes das Flores, Portugal on October 5, 2024 at 12:08 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 37.7942°, -31.6355°, which is 180 km SSW of Lajes das Flores, Portugal.
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: us6000nwpm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 5, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake 180 km SSW of Lajes das Flores, Portugal — October 5, 2024. Retrieved December 14, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000nwpm/