M5.0 Earthquake 70 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — December 4, 2020
2020-12-04 02:19:58 UTC (2020-12-04) · approx. 8:19 PM UTC-6 local
On December 4, 2020 at 02:19 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 70 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 11.5614°, -87.1227°.
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.
Earthquake Details
-87.1227°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Masachapa, Nicaragua?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 70 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua on December 4, 2020 at 02:19 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 11.5614°, -87.1227°, which is 70 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua.
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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000cmt9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 4, 2020). M5.0 Earthquake 70 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — December 4, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000cmt9/