M4.8 Earthquake 104 km W of La Libertad, Mexico — December 5, 2021
2021-12-05 17:37:22 UTC (2021-12-05) · approx. 9:37 AM UTC-8 local
On December 5, 2021 at 17:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 104 km W of La Libertad, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 30.0634°, -113.7657°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — 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
Earthquake Details
-113.7657°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near La Libertad, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 104 km W of La Libertad, Mexico on December 5, 2021 at 17:37 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 30.0634°, -113.7657°, which is 104 km W of La Libertad, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000g9b3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 5, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 104 km W of La Libertad, Mexico — December 5, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000g9b3/