M4.2 Earthquake 97 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan — December 23, 2023
2023-12-23 21:07:50 UTC (2023-12-23) · approx. 5:07 AM UTC+8 local
On December 23, 2023 at 21:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 97 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan, at a depth of 19.2 km and coordinates 22.6197°, 121.4195°.
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.
Earthquake Details
121.4195°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Hengchun, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 97 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan on December 23, 2023 at 21:07 UTC had a depth of 19.2 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ll4u). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 23, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 97 km NE of Hengchun, Taiwan — December 23, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ll4u/