M4.6 Earthquake 59 km SW of Kaohsiung, Taiwan — September 4, 2023
2023-09-04 13:56:55 UTC (2023-09-04) · approx. 9:56 PM UTC+8 local
On September 4, 2023 at 13:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 59 km SW of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, at a depth of 11.5 km and coordinates 22.2841°, 119.8579°. This earthquake was detected by 37 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Taiwan, a region characterized by the collision of the Luzon volcanic arc with the Eurasian continental margin, where the Philippine Sea Plate converges at 80 mm per year. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
119.8579°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Kaohsiung, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 59 km SW of Kaohsiung, Taiwan on September 4, 2023 at 13:56 UTC had a depth of 11.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 22.2841°, 119.8579°, which is 59 km SW of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. View all earthquakes in Taiwan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Taiwan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Taiwan was the M7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake of September 21, 1999. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ku98). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 4, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 59 km SW of Kaohsiung, Taiwan — September 4, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ku98/