4.2

M4.2 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands regionOctober 17, 2024

2024-10-17 21:01:43 UTC (2024-10-17) · approx. 9:01 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:01 UTC9:01 AM UTC-12
Depth246.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-31.584°, -179.839°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 17, 2024 at 21:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Kermadec Islands region, at a depth of 246.0 km and coordinates -31.5844°, -179.8390°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -31.58°, -179.84°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
246.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
-31.5844°N
-179.8390°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000nq8d
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
14
Azimuthal Gap
143.0°
Min Station Distance
2.847°
RMS Residual
0.62 sec
Last Updated
2024-12-26 23:03:31 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Kermadec Islands region?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Kermadec Islands region on October 17, 2024 at 21:01 UTC had a depth of 246.0 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nq8d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 17, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake in the Kermadec Islands regionOctober 17, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nq8d/