4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 59 km SSW of Intipucá, El SalvadorOctober 9, 2023

2023-10-09 22:25:21 UTC (2023-10-09) · approx. 4:25 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time22:25 UTC4:25 PM UTC-6
Depth65.8 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates12.673°, -88.194°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 9, 2023 at 22:25 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 59 km SSW of Intipucá, El Salvador, at a depth of 65.8 km and coordinates 12.6726°, -88.1939°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 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 10 days ago 69 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 12.67°, -88.19°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
65.8 km
shallow crustal
Location
12.6726°N
-88.1939°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000lee1
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
80
Azimuthal Gap
84.0°
Min Station Distance
0.802°
RMS Residual
0.80 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-16 22:13:06 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Intipucá, El Salvador?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 59 km SSW of Intipucá, El Salvador on October 9, 2023 at 22:25 UTC had a depth of 65.8 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 4.4 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 4.4 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.5 mainshock that occurred earlier 69 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lee1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 9, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 59 km SSW of Intipucá, El SalvadorOctober 9, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lee1/