M4.8 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — March 21, 2024
2024-03-21 23:29:49 UTC (2024-03-21) · approx. 11:29 AM UTC-12 local
On March 21, 2024 at 23:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 17.7 km and coordinates -27.4398°, -176.4867°. This earthquake was detected by 27 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-176.4867°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on March 21, 2024 at 23:29 UTC had a depth of 17.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -27.4398°, -176.4867°, which is in the Kermadec Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000m841). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 21, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region — March 21, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000m841/