M4.9 Earthquake 58 km SW of Sibolga, Indonesia — November 16, 2024
2024-11-16 15:28:38 UTC (2024-11-16) · approx. 10:28 PM UTC+7 local
On November 16, 2024 at 15:28 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 58 km SW of Sibolga, Indonesia, at a depth of 75.1 km and coordinates 1.4242°, 98.3549°. This earthquake was detected by 121 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
98.3549°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Sibolga, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 58 km SW of Sibolga, Indonesia on November 16, 2024 at 15:28 UTC had a depth of 75.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 1.4242°, 98.3549°, which is 58 km SW of Sibolga, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ns6d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, November 16, 2024). M4.9 Earthquake 58 km SW of Sibolga, Indonesia — November 16, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ns6d/