M5.2 Earthquake 148 km SW of La Placita de Morelos, Mexico — May 19, 2024
2024-05-19 09:39:41 UTC (2024-05-19) · approx. 2:39 AM UTC-7 local
On May 19, 2024 at 09:39 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 148 km SW of La Placita de Morelos, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 17.5800°, -104.5705°. This earthquake was detected by 95 seismic stations with good 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.
The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-104.5705°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near La Placita de Morelos, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 148 km SW of La Placita de Morelos, Mexico on May 19, 2024 at 09:39 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 17.5800°, -104.5705°, which is 148 km SW of La Placita de Morelos, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
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.
Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mzmh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 19, 2024). M5.2 Earthquake 148 km SW of La Placita de Morelos, Mexico — May 19, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mzmh/