M4.6 Earthquake 49 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan — November 16, 2020
2020-11-16 20:14:24 UTC (2020-11-16) · approx. 4:14 AM UTC+8 local
On November 16, 2020 at 20:14 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 49 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 21.6233°, 121.0033°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
121.0033°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Hengchun, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 49 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan on November 16, 2020 at 20:14 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.6233°, 121.0033°, which is 49 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cftu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 16, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 49 km SSE of Hengchun, Taiwan — November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cftu/