4.0

M4.0 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsMay 20, 2022

2022-05-20 17:31:58 UTC (2022-05-20) · approx. 5:31 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time17:31 UTC5:31 AM UTC-12
Depth205.8 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-23.874°, -177.695°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 20, 2022 at 17:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck south of the Fiji Islands, at a depth of 205.8 km and coordinates -23.8741°, -177.6945°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -23.87°, -177.69°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
205.8 km
intermediate depth
Location
-23.8741°N
-177.6945°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000hcpg
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
20
Azimuthal Gap
151.0°
Min Station Distance
5.370°
RMS Residual
0.56 sec
Last Updated
2022-07-24 02:40:40 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake south of the Fiji Islands?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck south of the Fiji Islands on May 20, 2022 at 17:31 UTC had a depth of 205.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000hcpg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 20, 2022). M4.0 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsMay 20, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000hcpg/