M4.7 Earthquake 100 km SSE of Ierápetra, Greece — April 15, 2024
2024-04-15 06:06:29 UTC (2024-04-15) · approx. 8:06 AM UTC+2 local
On April 15, 2024 at 06:06 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 100 km SSE of Ierápetra, Greece, at a depth of 31.6 km and coordinates 34.1729°, 26.1663°. This earthquake was detected by 150 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Greece, a region characterized by the Hellenic subduction zone, where the African Plate subducts northward beneath the Aegean at roughly 35 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Hellenic Trench. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
26.1663°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Ierápetra, Greece?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 100 km SSE of Ierápetra, Greece on April 15, 2024 at 06:06 UTC had a depth of 31.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 34.1729°, 26.1663°, which is 100 km SSE of Ierápetra, Greece. View all earthquakes in Greece.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Greece had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Greece was the M8.5 Crete earthquake of June 29, 1303. Today's magnitude 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000mc4w). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 15, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake 100 km SSE of Ierápetra, Greece — April 15, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000mc4w/