M4.3 Earthquake 69 km ENE of Castlepoint, New Zealand — July 15, 2023
2023-07-15 18:04:03 UTC (2023-07-15) · approx. 6:04 AM UTC+12 local
On July 15, 2023 at 18:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 69 km ENE of Castlepoint, New Zealand, at a depth of 21.0 km and coordinates -40.5582°, 176.9041°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
176.9041°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Castlepoint, New Zealand?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 69 km ENE of Castlepoint, New Zealand on July 15, 2023 at 18:04 UTC had a depth of 21.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kg06). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 15, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 69 km ENE of Castlepoint, New Zealand — July 15, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kg06/