4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 1 km SW of Tiltepec, Mexico — April 18, 2021

2021-04-18 22:47:28 UTC (2021-04-18) · approx. 4:47 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time22:47 UTC≈ 4:47 PM UTC-6
Depth129.7 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates16.383°, -93.878°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 18, 2021 at 22:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 1 km SW of Tiltepec, Mexico, at a depth of 129.7 km and coordinates 16.3827°, -93.8776°.

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.

The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 16.38°, -93.88°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
129.7 km
intermediate depth
Location
16.3827°N
-93.8776°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000e2r6
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Azimuthal Gap
109.0°
Min Station Distance
0.824°
RMS Residual
0.96 sec
Last Updated
2021-07-03 16:48:18 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Tiltepec, Mexico?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 1 km SW of Tiltepec, Mexico on April 18, 2021 at 22:47 UTC had a depth of 129.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 16.3827°, -93.8776°, which is 1 km SW of Tiltepec, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.

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.

Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000e2r6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, April 18, 2021). M4.5 Earthquake 1 km SW of Tiltepec, Mexico — April 18, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000e2r6/