5.0

M5.0 Earthquake 82 km SSW of Paracas, PeruApril 25, 2026

2026-04-25 20:14:39 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 3:14 PM UTC-5 local

Felt by 2 people across nearby locations. Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.

MagnitudeM5.0(mb)
Time20:14 UTC3:14 PM UTC-5
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-14.575°, -76.495°
Felt by2DYFI responses
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On April 25, 2026 at 20:14 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 82 km SSW of Paracas, Peru, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -14.5752°, -76.4954°. This earthquake was detected by 51 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 9 days ago 102 km SSW of Paracas, Peru. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

The epicenter is located in Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.

Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -14.58°, -76.50°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M5.0 earthquake near 82 km SSW of Paracas, Peru

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-14.5752°N
-76.4954°E
Felt Reports
2
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
2.0
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000ssvq
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
51
Azimuthal Gap
147.0°
Min Station Distance
2.594°
RMS Residual
0.66 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-25 22:08:15 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Paracas, Peru?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 82 km SSW of Paracas, Peru on April 25, 2026 at 20:14 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 -14.5752°, -76.4954°, which is 82 km SSW of Paracas, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 102 km SSW of Paracas, Peru. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Has Peru had earthquakes this big before?

The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. Today's magnitude 5.0 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: us6000ssvq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 25, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 82 km SSW of Paracas, PeruApril 25, 2026. Retrieved April 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ssvq/