M4.2 Earthquake 10 km WSW of Āwash, Ethiopia — December 26, 2024
2024-12-26 20:32:42 UTC (2024-12-26) · approx. 11:32 PM UTC+3 local
On December 26, 2024 at 20:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 10 km WSW of Āwash, Ethiopia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 8.9637°, 40.0709°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
40.0709°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Āwash, Ethiopia?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 10 km WSW of Āwash, Ethiopia on December 26, 2024 at 20:32 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pily). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 26, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 10 km WSW of Āwash, Ethiopia — December 26, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pily/