M4.6 Earthquake 49 km SSW of Machiques, Venezuela — May 3, 2024
2024-05-03 12:04:36 UTC (2024-05-03) · approx. 7:04 AM UTC-5 local
On May 3, 2024 at 12:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 49 km SSW of Machiques, Venezuela, at a depth of 12.2 km and coordinates 9.6863°, -72.7936°. This earthquake was detected by 141 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
-72.7936°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Machiques, Venezuela?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 49 km SSW of Machiques, Venezuela on May 3, 2024 at 12:04 UTC had a depth of 12.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 9.6863°, -72.7936°, which is 49 km SSW of Machiques, Venezuela.
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: us6000mvzi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 3, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 49 km SSW of Machiques, Venezuela — May 3, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mvzi/