4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 139 km ENE of Tobelo, IndonesiaDecember 17, 2022

2022-12-17 19:39:51 UTC (2022-12-17) · approx. 4:39 AM UTC+9 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time19:39 UTC4:39 AM UTC+9
Depth9.9 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates2.203°, 129.167°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 17, 2022 at 19:39 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 139 km ENE of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 9.9 km and coordinates 2.2032°, 129.1669°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 2.20°, 129.17°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
9.9 km
shallow crustal
Location
2.2032°N
129.1669°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000j0fp
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
13
Azimuthal Gap
158.0°
Min Station Distance
2.293°
RMS Residual
0.49 sec
Last Updated
2024-01-18 17:36:08 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 139 km ENE of Tobelo, Indonesia on December 17, 2022 at 19:39 UTC had a depth of 9.9 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j0fp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 17, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 139 km ENE of Tobelo, IndonesiaDecember 17, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j0fp/