M5.0 Earthquake 161 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia — August 18, 2020
2020-08-18 22:39:08 UTC (2020-08-18) · approx. 5:39 AM UTC+7 local
On August 18, 2020 at 22:39 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 161 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia, at a depth of 15.2 km and coordinates -4.4556°, 100.9629°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
100.9629°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Bengkulu, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 161 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia on August 18, 2020 at 22:39 UTC had a depth of 15.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -4.4556°, 100.9629°, which is 161 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bcme). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 18, 2020). M5.0 Earthquake 161 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia — August 18, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bcme/