M4.2 Earthquake near Tarapaca, Chile — January 31, 2023
2023-01-31 21:51:19 UTC (2023-01-31) · approx. 4:51 PM UTC-5 local
On January 31, 2023 at 21:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Tarapaca, Chile, at a depth of 111.1 km and coordinates -18.8950°, -69.9048°.
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
-69.9048°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Tarapaca, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck near Tarapaca, Chile on January 31, 2023 at 21:51 UTC had a depth of 111.1 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000jkld). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 31, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake near Tarapaca, Chile — January 31, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000jkld/