M4.2 Earthquake 216 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu — December 24, 2022
2022-12-24 20:01:35 UTC (2022-12-24) · approx. 7:01 AM UTC+11 local
On December 24, 2022 at 20:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 216 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu, at a depth of 92.7 km and coordinates -21.3817°, 169.9844°.
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.
Earthquake Details
169.9844°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Isangel, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 216 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu on December 24, 2022 at 20:01 UTC had a depth of 92.7 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j2bs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 24, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 216 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu — December 24, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j2bs/