4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 111 km SW of La Esperanza (El Zapotal), Mexico — October 12, 2020

2020-10-12 21:06:39 UTC (2020-10-12) · approx. 3:06 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:06 UTC≈ 3:06 PM UTC-6
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates14.687°, -93.843°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 12, 2020 at 21:06 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 111 km SW of La Esperanza (El Zapotal), Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 14.6871°, -93.8425°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 14.69°, -93.84°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
14.6871°N
-93.8425°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000c7vc
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Azimuthal Gap
183.0°
Min Station Distance
2.085°
RMS Residual
1.05 sec
Last Updated
2020-12-19 17:22:49 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near La Esperanza (El Zapotal), Mexico?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 111 km SW of La Esperanza (El Zapotal), Mexico on October 12, 2020 at 21:06 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000c7vc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 12, 2020). M4.2 Earthquake 111 km SW of La Esperanza (El Zapotal), Mexico — October 12, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c7vc/