4.2

M4.2 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsNovember 7, 2023

2023-11-07 18:55:05 UTC (2023-11-07) · approx. 6:55 AM UTC+12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time18:55 UTC6:55 AM UTC+12
Depth491.9 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-24.939°, 179.886°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 7, 2023 at 18:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck south of the Fiji Islands, at a depth of 491.9 km and coordinates -24.9394°, 179.8864°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -24.94°, 179.89°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
491.9 km
deep-focus
Location
-24.9394°N
179.8864°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000la4i
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
35
Azimuthal Gap
95.0°
Min Station Distance
4.728°
RMS Residual
1.08 sec
Last Updated
2024-01-13 23:11:17 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake south of the Fiji Islands?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck south of the Fiji Islands on November 7, 2023 at 18:55 UTC had a depth of 491.9 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000la4i). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 7, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake south of the Fiji IslandsNovember 7, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000la4i/