4.9

M4.9 Earthquake in the Fiji regionSeptember 2, 2022

2022-09-02 18:28:47 UTC (2022-09-02) · approx. 6:28 AM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time18:28 UTC6:28 AM UTC+12
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-17.734°, 173.585°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 2, 2022 at 18:28 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Fiji region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -17.7340°, 173.5855°. This earthquake was detected by 66 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.

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.

The epicenter is located in Fiji, a region characterized by the Fiji Fracture Zone at the junction of the Pacific and Australian plates, with deep-focus seismicity from the subducted slab. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -17.73°, 173.59°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-17.7340°N
173.5855°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000i4r9
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Stations Used
66
Azimuthal Gap
89.0°
Min Station Distance
4.257°
RMS Residual
0.48 sec
Last Updated
2022-11-06 04:35:51 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake in the Fiji region?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck in the Fiji region on September 2, 2022 at 18:28 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 -17.7340°, 173.5855°, which is in the Fiji region. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000i4r9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, September 2, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake in the Fiji regionSeptember 2, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i4r9/