M4.5 Earthquake 96 km ESE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador — December 21, 2020
2020-12-21 16:30:23 UTC (2020-12-21) · approx. 11:30 AM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On December 21, 2020 at 16:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 96 km ESE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador, at a depth of 47.1 km and coordinates -3.6308°, -77.7417°.
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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 24 days ago 123 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-77.7417°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Gualaquiza, Ecuador?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 96 km ESE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador on December 21, 2020 at 16:30 UTC had a depth of 47.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.6308°, -77.7417°, which is 96 km ESE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador.
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 M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 123 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d1ps). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 21, 2020). M4.5 Earthquake 96 km ESE of Gualaquiza, Ecuador — December 21, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d1ps/