M5.2 Earthquake 136 km SSE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal — April 23, 2024
2024-04-23 15:40:05 UTC (2024-04-23) · approx. 1:40 PM UTC-2 local
On April 23, 2024 at 15:40 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 136 km SSE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal, at a depth of 17.6 km and coordinates 38.1706°, -30.8499°. This earthquake was detected by 290 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-30.8499°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Lajes das Flores, Portugal?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 136 km SSE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal on April 23, 2024 at 15:40 UTC had a depth of 17.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 38.1706°, -30.8499°, which is 136 km SSE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mt7i). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 23, 2024). M5.2 Earthquake 136 km SSE of Lajes das Flores, Portugal — April 23, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mt7i/