M4.2 Earthquake 94 km NE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — March 20, 2024
2024-03-20 21:24:21 UTC (2024-03-20) · approx. 7:24 AM UTC+10 local
On March 20, 2024 at 21:24 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 94 km NE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea, at a depth of 116.2 km and coordinates -5.8565°, 148.3294°.
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
148.3294°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 94 km NE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea on March 20, 2024 at 21:24 UTC had a depth of 116.2 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: us7000m7xt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 20, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 94 km NE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea — March 20, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000m7xt/