M4.5 Earthquake 48 km WSW of Champerico, Guatemala — October 21, 2020
2020-10-21 20:51:18 UTC (2020-10-21) · approx. 2:51 PM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On October 21, 2020 at 20:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 48 km WSW of Champerico, Guatemala, at a depth of 41.9 km and coordinates 14.0796°, -92.3091°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 20 days ago 71 km SSW of Ocós, Guatemala. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-92.3091°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Champerico, Guatemala?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 48 km WSW of Champerico, Guatemala on October 21, 2020 at 20:51 UTC had a depth of 41.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 14.0796°, -92.3091°, which is 48 km WSW of Champerico, Guatemala.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 71 km SSW of Ocós, Guatemala. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000cb02). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 21, 2020). M4.5 Earthquake 48 km WSW of Champerico, Guatemala — October 21, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000cb02/