M5.2 Earthquake 167 km S of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — September 9, 2020
2020-09-09 22:55:55 UTC (2020-09-09) · approx. 10:55 AM UTC-12 local
On September 9, 2020 at 22:55 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 deep-focus earthquake struck 167 km S of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna, at a depth of 310.6 km and coordinates -14.7789°, -175.9243°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-175.9243°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 167 km S of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna on September 9, 2020 at 22:55 UTC had a depth of 310.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.7789°, -175.9243°, which is 167 km S of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bks4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 9, 2020). M5.2 Earthquake 167 km S of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — September 9, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bks4/