4.3

M4.3 Earthquake 78 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile — March 24, 2021

2021-03-24 20:21:41 UTC (2021-03-24) · approx. 3:21 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mwr)
Time20:21 UTC≈ 3:21 PM UTC-5
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-28.351°, -71.519°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 24, 2021 at 20:21 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 78 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -28.3505°, -71.5190°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -28.35°, -71.52°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mwr
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-28.3505°N
-71.5190°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000dw5x
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Azimuthal Gap
147.0°
Min Station Distance
0.418°
RMS Residual
0.44 sec
Last Updated
2021-06-02 15:22:40 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Vallenar, Chile?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 78 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile on March 24, 2021 at 20:21 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000dw5x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 24, 2021). M4.3 Earthquake 78 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile — March 24, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000dw5x/