4.8

M4.8 Earthquake 112 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru — May 22, 2021

2021-05-22 19:45:13 UTC (2021-05-22) · approx. 2:45 PM UTC-5 local

Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.

MagnitudeM4.8(mb)
Time19:45 UTC≈ 2:45 PM UTC-5
Depth111.4 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-3.893°, -77.360°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 22, 2021 at 19:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 112 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru, at a depth of 111.4 km and coordinates -3.8926°, -77.3597°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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 18 days ago 123 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 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 -3.89°, -77.36°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.8 mb
Depth
111.4 km
intermediate depth
Location
-3.8926°N
-77.3597°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000e5cr
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
354
Azimuthal Gap
85.0°
Min Station Distance
3.340°
RMS Residual
0.69 sec
Last Updated
2021-07-31 22:08:36 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Alianza Cristiana, Peru?

The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 112 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru on May 22, 2021 at 19:45 UTC had a depth of 111.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.8926°, -77.3597°, which is 112 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 123 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Actions

View on USGSDid You Feel It?

Location

Peru
View all Peru earthquakes

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000e5cr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 22, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 112 km WSW of Alianza Cristiana, Peru — May 22, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000e5cr/