M4.2 Earthquake 41 km WNW of Basotu, Tanzania — May 25, 2025
2025-05-25 19:51:54 UTC (2025-05-25) · approx. 9:51 PM UTC+2 local
On May 25, 2025 at 19:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 41 km WNW of Basotu, Tanzania, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -4.1821°, 34.7605°.
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
34.7605°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Basotu, Tanzania?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 41 km WNW of Basotu, Tanzania on May 25, 2025 at 19:51 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.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qjdp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 25, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 41 km WNW of Basotu, Tanzania — May 25, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qjdp/