M4.2 Earthquake 30 km NW of Coquimbo, Chile — January 7, 2021
2021-01-07 18:19:09 UTC (2021-01-07) · approx. 1:19 PM UTC-5 local
On January 7, 2021 at 18:19 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 30 km NW of Coquimbo, Chile, at a depth of 27.6 km and coordinates -29.7986°, -71.5987°.
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.
Earthquake Details
-71.5987°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Coquimbo, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 30 km NW of Coquimbo, Chile on January 7, 2021 at 18:19 UTC had a depth of 27.6 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d6id). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 7, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake 30 km NW of Coquimbo, Chile — January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d6id/