M4.2 Earthquake south of the Fiji Islands — November 20, 2024
2024-11-20 17:48:55 UTC (2024-11-20) · approx. 5:48 AM UTC+12 local
On November 20, 2024 at 17:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck south of the Fiji Islands, at a depth of 539.2 km and coordinates -24.3142°, 179.6714°.
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
179.6714°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake south of the Fiji Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck south of the Fiji Islands on November 20, 2024 at 17:48 UTC had a depth of 539.2 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: us7000nw66). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, November 20, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake south of the Fiji Islands — November 20, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nw66/