M4.3 Earthquake 18 km NNE of Metahāra, Ethiopia — December 31, 2024
2024-12-31 22:45:49 UTC (2024-12-31) · approx. 1:45 AM UTC+3 local
On December 31, 2024 at 22:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 18 km NNE of Metahāra, Ethiopia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 9.0500°, 40.0003°.
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.
Earthquake Details
40.0003°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Metahāra, Ethiopia?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 18 km NNE of Metahāra, Ethiopia on December 31, 2024 at 22:45 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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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: us6000pj8b). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 31, 2024). M4.3 Earthquake 18 km NNE of Metahāra, Ethiopia — December 31, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pj8b/