4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 12 km W of Cauquenes, ChileMarch 18, 2025

2025-03-18 22:51:26 UTC (2025-03-18) · approx. 5:51 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:51 UTC5:51 PM UTC-5
Depth51.5 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-35.949°, -72.460°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 18, 2025 at 22:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 12 km W of Cauquenes, Chile, at a depth of 51.5 km and coordinates -35.9492°, -72.4603°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -35.95°, -72.46°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
51.5 km
shallow crustal
Location
-35.9492°N
-72.4603°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000pzni
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
37
Azimuthal Gap
101.0°
Min Station Distance
0.867°
RMS Residual
0.57 sec
Last Updated
2025-05-17 19:20:01 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Cauquenes, Chile?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 12 km W of Cauquenes, Chile on March 18, 2025 at 22:51 UTC had a depth of 51.5 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pzni). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 18, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 12 km W of Cauquenes, ChileMarch 18, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pzni/