M5.2 Earthquake 85 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico — July 31, 2026
2026-07-31 16:15:58 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 10:15 AM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On July 31, 2026 at 16:15 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 85 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 14.6031°, -93.2309°. This earthquake was detected by 59 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 13 days ago 87 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 25 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 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
Earthquake Details
-93.2309°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near El Arenal, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 85 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico on July 31, 2026 at 16:15 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 14.6031°, -93.2309°, which is 85 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 87 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000th8n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 31, 2026). M5.2 Earthquake 85 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico — July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000th8n/