M4.6 Earthquake 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — February 24, 2021
2021-02-24 21:19:52 UTC (2021-02-24) · approx. 3:19 PM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On February 24, 2021 at 21:19 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 14.1846°, -93.0544°.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 25 days ago 112 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 6 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
-93.0544°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico on February 24, 2021 at 21:19 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 14.1846°, -93.0544°, which is 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 112 km SW 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ddfi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, February 24, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — February 24, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ddfi/