M5.1 Earthquake 89 km S of Topolobampo, Mexico — December 14, 2021
2021-12-14 02:31:32 UTC (2021-12-14) · approx. 7:31 PM UTC-7 local
On December 14, 2021 at 02:31 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 89 km S of Topolobampo, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 24.8070°, -109.2209°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
-109.2209°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Topolobampo, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 89 km S of Topolobampo, Mexico on December 14, 2021 at 02:31 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 24.8070°, -109.2209°, which is 89 km S of Topolobampo, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000gc27). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, December 14, 2021). M5.1 Earthquake 89 km S of Topolobampo, Mexico — December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000gc27/