M4.6 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — March 14, 2023
2023-03-14 23:45:31 UTC (2023-03-14) · approx. 11:45 AM UTC-12 local
On March 14, 2023 at 23:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 309.5 km and coordinates -29.8035°, -179.2164°. This earthquake was detected by 67 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-179.2164°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on March 14, 2023 at 23:45 UTC had a depth of 309.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -29.8035°, -179.2164°, which is in the Kermadec Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jjyt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 14, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — March 14, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jjyt/