M4.3 Earthquake 42 km ENE of Stratford, New Zealand — December 24, 2024
2024-12-24 16:10:09 UTC (2024-12-24) · approx. 4:10 AM UTC+12 local
On December 24, 2024 at 16:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 42 km ENE of Stratford, New Zealand, at a depth of 217.7 km and coordinates -39.1438°, 174.7025°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 9 days ago 6 km E of Inglewood, New Zealand. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
174.7025°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Stratford, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 42 km ENE of Stratford, New Zealand on December 24, 2024 at 16:10 UTC had a depth of 217.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 6 km E of Inglewood, New Zealand. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pfgm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 24, 2024). M4.3 Earthquake 42 km ENE of Stratford, New Zealand — December 24, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pfgm/