M4.7 Earthquake in the Chagos Archipelago region — October 17, 2024
2024-10-17 18:17:35 UTC (2024-10-17) · approx. 11:17 PM UTC+5 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On October 17, 2024 at 18:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Chagos Archipelago region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -6.6173°, 72.6629°. This earthquake was detected by 62 seismic stations with good 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 4 days ago in the Chagos Archipelago region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
72.6629°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake in the Chagos Archipelago region?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck in the Chagos Archipelago region on October 17, 2024 at 18:17 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 -6.6173°, 72.6629°, which is in the Chagos Archipelago region.
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 M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Chagos Archipelago region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000nzeb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 17, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake in the Chagos Archipelago region — October 17, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000nzeb/