M4.2 Earthquake in the Fiji region — December 15, 2020
2020-12-15 15:47:19 UTC (2020-12-15) · approx. 3:47 AM UTC-12 local
On December 15, 2020 at 15:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Fiji region, at a depth of 404.9 km and coordinates -17.4052°, -177.2000°.
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
-177.2000°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Fiji region?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Fiji region on December 15, 2020 at 15:47 UTC had a depth of 404.9 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cs6b). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 15, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake in the Fiji region — December 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cs6b/