M4.2 Earthquake 15 km WSW of Palora, Ecuador — December 28, 2023
2023-12-28 22:44:58 UTC (2023-12-28) · approx. 5:44 PM UTC-5 local
On December 28, 2023 at 22:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 15 km WSW of Palora, Ecuador, at a depth of 164.9 km and coordinates -1.7562°, -78.0928°.
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
-78.0928°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Palora, Ecuador?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 15 km WSW of Palora, Ecuador on December 28, 2023 at 22:44 UTC had a depth of 164.9 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: us6000m09z). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 28, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 15 km WSW of Palora, Ecuador — December 28, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m09z/