M4.5 Earthquake 168 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — December 21, 2024
2024-12-21 19:20:34 UTC (2024-12-21) · approx. 7:20 AM UTC-12 local
On December 21, 2024 at 19:20 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 168 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna, at a depth of 285.2 km and coordinates -14.7719°, -175.8620°. This earthquake was detected by 58 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-175.8620°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 168 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna on December 21, 2024 at 19:20 UTC had a depth of 285.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.7719°, -175.8620°, which is 168 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000p0mn). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 21, 2024). M4.5 Earthquake 168 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — December 21, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000p0mn/