4.5

M4.5 Earthquake south of the Kermadec IslandsAugust 24, 2023

2023-08-24 18:04:54 UTC (2023-08-24) · approx. 6:04 AM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time18:04 UTC6:04 AM UTC+12
Depth308.5 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-32.294°, 179.850°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On August 24, 2023 at 18:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 deep-focus earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands, at a depth of 308.5 km and coordinates -32.2942°, 179.8496°. This earthquake was detected by 54 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -32.29°, 179.85°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
308.5 km
deep-focus
Location
-32.2942°N
179.8496°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000kqpg
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
54
Azimuthal Gap
75.0°
Min Station Distance
3.580°
RMS Residual
1.13 sec
Last Updated
2023-10-28 19:15:36 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake south of the Kermadec Islands?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck south of the Kermadec Islands on August 24, 2023 at 18:04 UTC had a depth of 308.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -32.2942°, 179.8496°, which is south of the Kermadec Islands.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kqpg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 24, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake south of the Kermadec IslandsAugust 24, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kqpg/