M5.0 Earthquake 198 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia — April 8, 2022
2022-04-08 12:32:11 UTC (2022-04-08) · approx. 9:32 PM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On April 8, 2022 at 12:32 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 198 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia, at a depth of 57.9 km and coordinates -3.2917°, 138.9904°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 11 days ago 164 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia. 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.
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
138.9904°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Abepura, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 198 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia on April 8, 2022 at 12:32 UTC had a depth of 57.9 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.2917°, 138.9904°, which is 198 km WSW of Abepura, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 164 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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: us7000h0mt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, April 8, 2022). M5.0 Earthquake 198 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia — April 8, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000h0mt/