4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 64 km NNE of Calama, Chile — September 22, 2020

2020-09-22 19:30:53 UTC (2020-09-22) · approx. 2:30 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time19:30 UTC≈ 2:30 PM UTC-5
Depth118.7 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-21.915°, -68.688°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 22, 2020 at 19:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 64 km NNE of Calama, Chile, at a depth of 118.7 km and coordinates -21.9149°, -68.6878°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -21.91°, -68.69°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
118.7 km
intermediate depth
Location
-21.9149°N
-68.6878°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000bzrh
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Azimuthal Gap
106.0°
Min Station Distance
0.528°
RMS Residual
0.47 sec
Last Updated
2020-11-28 21:32:05 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Calama, Chile?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 64 km NNE of Calama, Chile on September 22, 2020 at 19:30 UTC had a depth of 118.7 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bzrh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 22, 2020). M4.0 Earthquake 64 km NNE of Calama, Chile — September 22, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bzrh/