4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 9 km NW of San Juan del Sur, NicaraguaDecember 29, 2024

2024-12-29 23:00:10 UTC (2024-12-29) · approx. 5:00 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time23:00 UTC5:00 PM UTC-6
Depth100.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates11.321°, -85.930°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 29, 2024 at 23:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 9 km NW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, at a depth of 100.9 km and coordinates 11.3207°, -85.9299°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 11.32°, -85.93°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
100.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
11.3207°N
-85.9299°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pgcx
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
33
Azimuthal Gap
142.0°
Min Station Distance
0.745°
RMS Residual
0.55 sec
Last Updated
2025-03-08 22:39:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 9 km NW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua on December 29, 2024 at 23:00 UTC had a depth of 100.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pgcx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 29, 2024). M4.0 Earthquake 9 km NW of San Juan del Sur, NicaraguaDecember 29, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pgcx/