M4.9 Earthquake 93 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan — November 5, 2020
2020-11-05 18:36:13 UTC (2020-11-05) · approx. 2:36 AM UTC+8 local
On November 5, 2020 at 18:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 93 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan, at a depth of 26.8 km and coordinates 22.6207°, 121.3709°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Taiwan, a region characterized by the collision of the Luzon volcanic arc with the Eurasian continental margin, where the Philippine Sea Plate converges at 80 mm per year. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
121.3709°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Hengchun, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 93 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan on November 5, 2020 at 18:36 UTC had a depth of 26.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 22.6207°, 121.3709°, which is 93 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Taiwan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Taiwan was the M7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake of September 21, 1999. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000caxv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 5, 2020). M4.9 Earthquake 93 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan — November 5, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000caxv/