M4.2 Earthquake 94 km SW of Champerico, Guatemala — December 18, 2024
2024-12-18 18:55:13 UTC (2024-12-18) · approx. 12:55 PM UTC-6 local
On December 18, 2024 at 18:55 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 94 km SW of Champerico, Guatemala, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 13.6582°, -92.4902°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 16 days ago 95 km SW of Ocós, Guatemala. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-92.4902°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Champerico, Guatemala?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 94 km SW of Champerico, Guatemala on December 18, 2024 at 18:55 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 95 km SW of Ocós, Guatemala. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000phhb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 18, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 94 km SW of Champerico, Guatemala — December 18, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000phhb/