M4.8 Earthquake 59 km SW of Santiago Tepextla, Mexico — December 29, 2024
2024-12-29 20:34:33 UTC (2024-12-29) · approx. 1:34 PM UTC-7 local
On December 29, 2024 at 20:34 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 59 km SW of Santiago Tepextla, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 15.9549°, -98.8298°. This earthquake was detected by 119 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
-98.8298°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Santiago Tepextla, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 59 km SW of Santiago Tepextla, Mexico on December 29, 2024 at 20:34 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 15.9549°, -98.8298°, which is 59 km SW of Santiago Tepextla, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pgc6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 29, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake 59 km SW of Santiago Tepextla, Mexico — December 29, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pgc6/