A Magnitude 4.8 Earthquake in Haengan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk... "Largest Magnitude This Year"

The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that at 8:26:49 a.m. on the 12th, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 occurred 4 km south-southwest of Buan-gun, Jeonbuk Province.

Expected Progress Information. [Image Source=Korea Meteorological Administration]

The epicenter is located at 35.70 degrees north latitude and 126.71 degrees east longitude. Administratively, it corresponds to Jindong-ri, Haengan-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeonbuk Province. The estimated depth of the hypocenter is 8 km.

This earthquake is the largest magnitude earthquake to occur this year on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding waters. It has been about a year since an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 or higher occurred in South Korea, which was on May 15 last year, when a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 52 km northeast off the coast of Donghae-si, Gangwon Province. Based on land, it has been over six years since a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 4 km northwest off the coast of Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk Province on February 11, 2018.

The Korea Meteorological Administration stated, "This is detailed information manually analyzed from the earthquake alert, and please refer to information about aftershocks in the future," and urged, "Some damage may occur in areas near the earthquake, so please be cautious about safety."