M4.4 Earthquake near Banda Sea — March 21, 2023
2023-03-21 20:37:55 UTC (2023-03-21) · approx. 5:37 AM UTC+9 local
On March 21, 2023 at 20:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Banda Sea, at a depth of 136.9 km and coordinates -6.5117°, 130.1553°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — 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 5.1 mainshock that occurred 12 days ago near Banda Sea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
130.1553°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Banda Sea?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck near Banda Sea on March 21, 2023 at 20:37 UTC had a depth of 136.9 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier near Banda Sea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jlt8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 21, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake near Banda Sea — March 21, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jlt8/