M5.0 Earthquake 122 km NNE of Palu, Indonesia — December 31, 2021
2021-12-31 05:53:42 UTC (2021-12-31) · approx. 1:53 PM UTC+8 local
On December 31, 2021 at 05:53 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 122 km NNE of Palu, Indonesia, at a depth of 106.8 km and coordinates 0.0488°, 120.4338°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
Earthquake Details
120.4338°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Palu, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 122 km NNE of Palu, Indonesia on December 31, 2021 at 05:53 UTC had a depth of 106.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 0.0488°, 120.4338°, which is 122 km NNE of Palu, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000g84h). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 31, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 122 km NNE of Palu, Indonesia — December 31, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000g84h/