M4.6 Earthquake 61 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — October 20, 2022
2022-10-20 23:55:49 UTC (2022-10-20) · approx. 5:55 PM UTC-6 local
On October 20, 2022 at 23:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 61 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua, at a depth of 28.3 km and coordinates 11.4817°, -86.9819°. This earthquake was detected by 65 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.
Earthquake Details
-86.9819°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Masachapa, Nicaragua?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 61 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua on October 20, 2022 at 23:55 UTC had a depth of 28.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 11.4817°, -86.9819°, which is 61 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua.
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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ive2). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 20, 2022). M4.6 Earthquake 61 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — October 20, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ive2/