4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 84 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru — February 15, 2021

2021-02-15 20:48:52 UTC (2021-02-15) · approx. 3:48 PM UTC-5 local

Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time20:48 UTC≈ 3:48 PM UTC-5
Depth95.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-3.817°, -77.113°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On February 15, 2021 at 20:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 84 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru, at a depth of 95.3 km and coordinates -3.8170°, -77.1133°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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 21 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.

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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -3.82°, -77.11°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
95.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
-3.8170°N
-77.1133°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000dhvx
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Azimuthal Gap
101.0°
Min Station Distance
2.526°
RMS Residual
0.64 sec
Last Updated
2021-04-23 21:04:41 UTC

Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)

4.5
96 km ENE of Alianza Cristiana, Peru
2 days ago · 134.8 km deep

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Alianza Cristiana, Peru?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 84 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru on February 15, 2021 at 20:48 UTC had a depth of 95.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.8170°, -77.1133°, which is 84 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 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.

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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Actions

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Location

Peru
View all Peru earthquakes

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dhvx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, February 15, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 84 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru — February 15, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dhvx/