M5.1 Earthquake 5 km WSW of Azángaro, Peru — May 20, 2024
2024-05-20 23:53:50 UTC (2024-05-20) · approx. 6:53 PM UTC-5 local
On May 20, 2024 at 23:53 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 5 km WSW of Azángaro, Peru, at a depth of 227.4 km and coordinates -14.9188°, -70.2464°. This earthquake was detected by 263 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-70.2464°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Azángaro, Peru?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 5 km WSW of Azángaro, Peru on May 20, 2024 at 23:53 UTC had a depth of 227.4 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.9188°, -70.2464°, which is 5 km WSW of Azángaro, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Peru had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. Today's magnitude 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000mzxl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 20, 2024). M5.1 Earthquake 5 km WSW of Azángaro, Peru — May 20, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000mzxl/