M4.8 Earthquake 47 km SE of Colonia, Micronesia — July 6, 2023
2023-07-06 21:41:13 UTC (2023-07-06) · approx. 6:41 AM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On July 6, 2023 at 21:41 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 47 km SE of Colonia, Micronesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 9.2474°, 138.4548°. This earthquake was detected by 57 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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 10 days ago 23 km ENE of Colonia, Micronesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
138.4548°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Colonia, Micronesia?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 47 km SE of Colonia, Micronesia on July 6, 2023 at 21:41 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 9.2474°, 138.4548°, which is 47 km SE of Colonia, Micronesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 23 km ENE of Colonia, Micronesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kfh8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 6, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake 47 km SE of Colonia, Micronesia — July 6, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kfh8/