M4.6 Earthquake 44 km SW of Coquimbo, Chile — August 12, 2020
2020-08-12 20:54:35 UTC (2020-08-12) · approx. 3:54 PM UTC-5 local
On August 12, 2020 at 20:54 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 44 km SW of Coquimbo, Chile, at a depth of 61.8 km and coordinates -30.2677°, -71.6197°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Chile, a region characterized by the Peru-Chile Trench, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath South America at 65-80 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-71.6197°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Coquimbo, Chile?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 44 km SW of Coquimbo, Chile on August 12, 2020 at 20:54 UTC had a depth of 61.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -30.2677°, -71.6197°, which is 44 km SW of Coquimbo, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Chile had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Chile was the M9.5 Great Chilean earthquake of May 22, 1960. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bdm3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 12, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 44 km SW of Coquimbo, Chile — August 12, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bdm3/