4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 287 km E of Levuka, FijiNovember 12, 2023

2023-11-12 18:00:29 UTC (2023-11-12) · approx. 6:00 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time18:00 UTC6:00 AM UTC-12
Depth567.0 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-18.026°, -177.972°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 12, 2023 at 18:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 deep-focus earthquake struck 287 km E of Levuka, Fiji, at a depth of 567.0 km and coordinates -18.0259°, -177.9724°. This earthquake was detected by 110 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.

The epicenter is located in Fiji, a region characterized by the Fiji Fracture Zone at the junction of the Pacific and Australian plates, with deep-focus seismicity from the subducted slab. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -18.03°, -177.97°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
567.0 km
deep-focus
Location
-18.0259°N
-177.9724°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000lahy
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
110
Azimuthal Gap
37.0°
Min Station Distance
4.073°
RMS Residual
0.72 sec
Last Updated
2024-01-26 16:37:57 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Levuka, Fiji?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 287 km E of Levuka, Fiji on November 12, 2023 at 18:00 UTC had a depth of 567.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -18.0259°, -177.9724°, which is 287 km E of Levuka, Fiji. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

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: us7000lahy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 12, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 287 km E of Levuka, FijiNovember 12, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lahy/