M4.6 Earthquake 70 km E of Puerto Ocopa, Peru — September 15, 2020
2020-09-15 16:22:51 UTC (2020-09-15) · approx. 11:22 AM UTC-5 local
On September 15, 2020 at 16:22 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 70 km E of Puerto Ocopa, Peru, at a depth of 20.5 km and coordinates -11.1354°, -73.6665°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
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
Earthquake Details
-73.6665°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Puerto Ocopa, Peru?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 70 km E of Puerto Ocopa, Peru on September 15, 2020 at 16:22 UTC had a depth of 20.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -11.1354°, -73.6665°, which is 70 km E of Puerto Ocopa, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bpul). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 15, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 70 km E of Puerto Ocopa, Peru — September 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bpul/