M4.7 Earthquake 41 km SE of Karpathos, Greece — March 20, 2021
2021-03-20 22:50:39 UTC (2021-03-20) · approx. 12:50 AM UTC+2 local
On March 20, 2021 at 22:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 41 km SE of Karpathos, Greece, at a depth of 26.4 km and coordinates 35.2173°, 27.5065°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Greece, a region characterized by the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African Plate subducts northward beneath the Aegean at roughly 35 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Hellenic Trench. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
27.5065°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Karpathos, Greece?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 41 km SE of Karpathos, Greece on March 20, 2021 at 22:50 UTC had a depth of 26.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 35.2173°, 27.5065°, which is 41 km SE of Karpathos, Greece. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Greece had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Greece was the M8.5 Crete earthquake of June 29, 1303. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000dlb9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 20, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake 41 km SE of Karpathos, Greece — March 20, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000dlb9/