4.7

M4.7 Earthquake 238 km NNE of Tobelo, IndonesiaSeptember 12, 2021

2021-09-12 13:34:34 UTC (2021-09-12) · approx. 10:34 PM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.7(mb)
Time13:34 UTC10:34 PM UTC+9
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates3.756°, 128.736°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 12, 2021 at 13:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 238 km NNE of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 3.7563°, 128.7363°.

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 Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 3.76°, 128.74°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.7 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
3.7563°N
128.7363°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000fajk
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
340
Azimuthal Gap
107.0°
Min Station Distance
3.265°
RMS Residual
0.48 sec
Last Updated
2021-11-23 15:10:39 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?

The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 238 km NNE of Tobelo, Indonesia on September 12, 2021 at 13:34 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 3.7563°, 128.7363°, which is 238 km NNE of Tobelo, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.

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 Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fajk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 12, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake 238 km NNE of Tobelo, IndonesiaSeptember 12, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fajk/