M5.2 Earthquake 143 km SW of Empaque Tarriba, Mexico — September 23, 2021
2021-09-23 16:47:07 UTC (2021-09-23) · approx. 9:47 AM UTC-7 local
On September 23, 2021 at 16:47 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 143 km SW of Empaque Tarriba, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 23.0838°, -108.0246°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
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
-108.0246°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Empaque Tarriba, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 143 km SW of Empaque Tarriba, Mexico on September 23, 2021 at 16:47 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 23.0838°, -108.0246°, which is 143 km SW of Empaque Tarriba, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fdtx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 23, 2021). M5.2 Earthquake 143 km SW of Empaque Tarriba, Mexico — September 23, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fdtx/