M5.0 Earthquake 210 km WSW of Santiago de Cao, Peru — February 15, 2021
2021-02-15 10:32:42 UTC (2021-02-15) · approx. 5:32 AM UTC-5 local
On February 15, 2021 at 10:32 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 210 km WSW of Santiago de Cao, Peru, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -8.7353°, -80.9861°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — 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
-80.9861°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Santiago de Cao, Peru?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 210 km WSW of Santiago de Cao, Peru on February 15, 2021 at 10:32 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -8.7353°, -80.9861°, which is 210 km WSW of Santiago de Cao, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dhsm). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, February 15, 2021). M5.0 Earthquake 210 km WSW of Santiago de Cao, Peru — February 15, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dhsm/