M4.9 Earthquake 217 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste — May 20, 2021
2021-05-20 15:27:10 UTC (2021-05-20) · approx. 12:27 AM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.9 mainshock.
On May 20, 2021 at 15:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 217 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste, at a depth of 163.6 km and coordinates -7.4027°, 128.6220°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred 17 days ago 253 km ENE of Lospalos, Timor Leste. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
128.6220°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Lospalos, Timor Leste?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 217 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste on May 20, 2021 at 15:27 UTC had a depth of 163.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -7.4027°, 128.6220°, which is 217 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 253 km ENE of Lospalos, Timor Leste. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000e4sn). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 20, 2021). M4.9 Earthquake 217 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste — May 20, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000e4sn/