Shallow M5.8 earthquake hits American Samoa region
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.8 hit the American Samoa region at 05:08 UTC on September 14, 2022. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.8 at a depth of 40 km (25 miles).
The epicenter was located about 300 km (187 miles) SSE of Ta’u Island volcano – where an earthquake swarm is occurring since July 2022.1
There are no people affected within 100 km (6.2 miles).
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unknown/miscellaneous types construction.
Regional seismicity
References:
1 Ta’u Island volcano earthquake swarm – The Watchers (archive)
Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.