M5.5 Earthquake 201 km SW of José María Morelos, Mexico — December 5, 2025
2025-12-05 19:33:40 UTC (2025-12-05) · approx. 12:33 PM UTC-7 local
On December 5, 2025 at 19:33 UTC, a magnitude 5.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 201 km SW of José María Morelos, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 18.6143°, -106.7426°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 261 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 465, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Jose Maria Pino Suarez (Nuevo Nahuapa) (population 2,554).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 3 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 3.8 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
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 62,331 |
Earthquake Details
-106.7426°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.5 earthquake near José María Morelos, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.5 earthquake that struck 201 km SW of José María Morelos, Mexico on December 5, 2025 at 19:33 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 18.6143°, -106.7426°, which is 201 km SW of José María Morelos, Mexico. The nearest populated place is Jose Maria Pino Suarez (Nuevo Nahuapa) (population 2,554). View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.5 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rsti). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 5, 2025). M5.5 Earthquake 201 km SW of José María Morelos, Mexico — December 5, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rsti/