M4.6 Earthquake 113 km S of San Francisco del Mar Viejo, Mexico — May 18, 2022
2022-05-18 19:52:42 UTC (2022-05-18) · approx. 1:52 PM UTC-6 local
On May 18, 2022 at 19:52 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 113 km S of San Francisco del Mar Viejo, Mexico, at a depth of 35.6 km and coordinates 15.2105°, -94.5643°. This earthquake was detected by 93 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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.
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
-94.5643°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near San Francisco del Mar Viejo, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 113 km S of San Francisco del Mar Viejo, Mexico on May 18, 2022 at 19:52 UTC had a depth of 35.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 15.2105°, -94.5643°, which is 113 km S of San Francisco del Mar Viejo, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
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.
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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000hm3z). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 18, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake 113 km S of San Francisco del Mar Viejo, Mexico — May 18, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000hm3z/