M4.3 Earthquake 58 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala — May 7, 2023
2023-05-07 17:23:02 UTC (2023-05-07) · approx. 11:23 AM UTC-6 local
On May 7, 2023 at 17:23 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 58 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala, at a depth of 58.9 km and coordinates 13.3957°, -90.8056°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred 4 days ago 40 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-90.8056°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Puerto San José, Guatemala?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 58 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala on May 7, 2023 at 17:23 UTC had a depth of 58.9 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.5 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred earlier 40 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ka8w). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 7, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 58 km S of Puerto San José, Guatemala — May 7, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ka8w/