M4.9 Earthquake 102 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador — October 15, 2023
2023-10-15 22:44:41 UTC (2023-10-15) · approx. 4:44 PM UTC-6 local
On October 15, 2023 at 22:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 102 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador, at a depth of 51.4 km and coordinates 12.3509°, -88.4707°. This earthquake was detected by 140 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-88.4707°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Chirilagua, El Salvador?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 102 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador on October 15, 2023 at 22:44 UTC had a depth of 51.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 12.3509°, -88.4707°, which is 102 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lfsv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 15, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 102 km SSW of Chirilagua, El Salvador — October 15, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lfsv/