4.4

M4.4 Earthquake in the Fiji regionSeptember 17, 2023

2023-09-17 23:37:17 UTC (2023-09-17) · approx. 11:37 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time23:37 UTC11:37 AM UTC-12
Depth566.8 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-19.428°, -177.752°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 17, 2023 at 23:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Fiji region, at a depth of 566.8 km and coordinates -19.4280°, -177.7525°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -19.43°, -177.75°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
566.8 km
deep-focus
Location
-19.4280°N
-177.7525°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000kx5e
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
33
Azimuthal Gap
130.0°
Min Station Distance
2.954°
RMS Residual
0.64 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-02 23:01:09 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the Fiji region?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck in the Fiji region on September 17, 2023 at 23:37 UTC had a depth of 566.8 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kx5e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 17, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake in the Fiji regionSeptember 17, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kx5e/