M4.2 Earthquake 81 km NNE of Calama, Chile — December 17, 2022
2022-12-17 16:18:07 UTC (2022-12-17) · approx. 11:18 AM UTC-5 local
On December 17, 2022 at 16:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 81 km NNE of Calama, Chile, at a depth of 130.2 km and coordinates -21.8080°, -68.5595°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-68.5595°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Calama, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 81 km NNE of Calama, Chile on December 17, 2022 at 16:18 UTC had a depth of 130.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Location
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ja0s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 17, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 81 km NNE of Calama, Chile — December 17, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ja0s/