M4.6 Earthquake 80 km N of Barrancas, Argentina — October 17, 2023
2023-10-17 02:35:16 UTC (2023-10-17) · approx. 9:35 PM UTC-5 local
On October 17, 2023 at 02:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 80 km N of Barrancas, Argentina, at a depth of 172.7 km and coordinates -36.0983°, -69.9225°. This earthquake was detected by 68 seismic stations with excellent 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.
Earthquake Details
-69.9225°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Barrancas, Argentina?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 80 km N of Barrancas, Argentina on October 17, 2023 at 02:35 UTC had a depth of 172.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -36.0983°, -69.9225°, which is 80 km N of Barrancas, Argentina.
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: us6000lg23). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 17, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 80 km N of Barrancas, Argentina — October 17, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lg23/