M4.5 Earthquake 33 km SE of Contamana, Peru — November 20, 2020
2020-11-20 20:48:55 UTC (2020-11-20) · approx. 3:48 PM UTC-5 local
On November 20, 2020 at 20:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 33 km SE of Contamana, Peru, at a depth of 141.8 km and coordinates -7.5597°, -74.8109°.
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.
The epicenter is located in Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-74.8109°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Contamana, Peru?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 33 km SE of Contamana, Peru on November 20, 2020 at 20:48 UTC had a depth of 141.8 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -7.5597°, -74.8109°, which is 33 km SE of Contamana, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
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.
Has Peru had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. Today's magnitude 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000cr0j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, November 20, 2020). M4.5 Earthquake 33 km SE of Contamana, Peru — November 20, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000cr0j/