M5.2 Earthquake near Molucca Sea — April 30, 2023
2023-04-30 16:29:01 UTC (2023-04-30) · approx. 12:29 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.7 mainshock.
On April 30, 2023 at 16:29 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Molucca Sea, at a depth of 19.9 km and coordinates 1.3426°, 126.2937°. This earthquake was detected by 71 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.7 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 125 km NW of Ternate, 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.
Earthquake Details
126.2937°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Molucca Sea?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck near Molucca Sea on April 30, 2023 at 16:29 UTC had a depth of 19.9 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 1.3426°, 126.2937°, which is near Molucca Sea.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.7 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.7 mainshock that occurred earlier 125 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jx7c). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, April 30, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake near Molucca Sea — April 30, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jx7c/