4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 89 km SW of Jiquilillo, NicaraguaApril 2, 2023

2023-04-02 22:32:40 UTC (2023-04-02) · approx. 4:32 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time22:32 UTC4:32 PM UTC-6
Depth35.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates12.171°, -88.036°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 2, 2023 at 22:32 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 89 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates 12.1705°, -88.0358°. This earthquake was detected by 38 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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 12.17°, -88.04°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
35.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
12.1705°N
-88.0358°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000k1lp
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Stations Used
38
Azimuthal Gap
157.0°
Min Station Distance
1.121°
RMS Residual
0.80 sec
Last Updated
2023-06-13 03:13:21 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Jiquilillo, Nicaragua?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 89 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua on April 2, 2023 at 22:32 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 12.1705°, -88.0358°, which is 89 km SW of Jiquilillo, 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: us6000k1lp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, April 2, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 89 km SW of Jiquilillo, NicaraguaApril 2, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000k1lp/