M4.4 Earthquake north of Ascension Island — December 21, 2024
2024-12-21 19:55:31 UTC (2024-12-21) · approx. 6:55 PM UTC-1 local
On December 21, 2024 at 19:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck north of Ascension Island, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -1.3437°, -15.0192°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-15.0192°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake north of Ascension Island?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck north of Ascension Island on December 21, 2024 at 19:55 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000phkv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 21, 2024). M4.4 Earthquake north of Ascension Island — December 21, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000phkv/