M4.2 Earthquake 148 km ENE of Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal — February 16, 2025
2025-02-16 21:42:04 UTC (2025-02-16) · approx. 7:42 PM UTC-2 local
On February 16, 2025 at 21:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 148 km ENE of Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 39.9548°, -29.5174°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 9 days ago 138 km ENE of Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal. 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
-29.5174°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 148 km ENE of Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal on February 16, 2025 at 21:42 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 138 km ENE of Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pv6h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, February 16, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 148 km ENE of Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal — February 16, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pv6h/