M5.2 Earthquake in the Fiji region — December 20, 2022
2022-12-20 12:52:39 UTC (2022-12-20) · approx. 12:52 AM UTC-12 local
On December 20, 2022 at 12:52 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Fiji region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -16.7985°, -176.9918°. This earthquake was detected by 38 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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
Earthquake Details
-176.9918°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake in the Fiji region?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck in the Fiji region on December 20, 2022 at 12:52 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.7985°, -176.9918°, 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 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j1v7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 20, 2022). M5.2 Earthquake in the Fiji region — December 20, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j1v7/