M5.0 Earthquake 163 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia — January 20, 2023
2023-01-20 17:49:34 UTC (2023-01-20) · approx. 1:49 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On January 20, 2023 at 17:49 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 163 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 24.6 km and coordinates 2.7450°, 126.9444°. This earthquake was detected by 130 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 17 days ago 161 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
126.9444°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 163 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia on January 20, 2023 at 17:49 UTC had a depth of 24.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 2.7450°, 126.9444°, which is 163 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 161 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j5vr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 20, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 163 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia — January 20, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j5vr/