M4.7 Earthquake south of Panama — September 19, 2021
2021-09-19 15:33:49 UTC (2021-09-19) · approx. 9:33 AM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On September 19, 2021 at 15:33 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck south of Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 3.4522°, -82.7667°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 15 days ago near off the coast of Central America. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-82.7667°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake south of Panama?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck south of Panama on September 19, 2021 at 15:33 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 3.4522°, -82.7667°, which is south of Panama.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier near off the coast of Central America. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fcp8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 19, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake south of Panama — September 19, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fcp8/