M4.2 Earthquake 32 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan — August 20, 2024
2024-08-20 18:53:10 UTC (2024-08-20) · approx. 2:53 AM UTC+8 local
On August 20, 2024 at 18:53 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 32 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 24.1564°, 121.8591°.
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
121.8591°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Hualien City, Taiwan?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 32 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan on August 20, 2024 at 18:53 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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: us7000n8b5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, August 20, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 32 km NE of Hualien City, Taiwan — August 20, 2024. Retrieved November 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000n8b5/