M4.2 Earthquake 58 km NE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile — May 16, 2023
2023-05-16 19:18:06 UTC (2023-05-16) · approx. 2:18 PM UTC-5 local
On May 16, 2023 at 19:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 58 km NE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, at a depth of 165.6 km and coordinates -22.4931°, -67.8539°.
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
-67.8539°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 58 km NE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile on May 16, 2023 at 19:18 UTC had a depth of 165.6 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: us6000kcd9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 16, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 58 km NE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile — May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kcd9/