M4.2 Earthquake 37 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador — November 17, 2023
2023-11-17 22:00:30 UTC (2023-11-17) · approx. 4:00 PM UTC-6 local
On November 17, 2023 at 22:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 37 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador, at a depth of 55.5 km and coordinates 13.2983°, -90.0006°.
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
-90.0006°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Acajutla, El Salvador?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 37 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador on November 17, 2023 at 22:00 UTC had a depth of 55.5 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: us6000lq4f). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 17, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 37 km SSW of Acajutla, El Salvador — November 17, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lq4f/