M4.2 Earthquake 70 km NNW of Tocopilla, Chile — September 26, 2021
2021-09-26 22:45:17 UTC (2021-09-26) · approx. 5:45 PM UTC-5 local
On September 26, 2021 at 22:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 70 km NNW of Tocopilla, Chile, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -21.5248°, -70.5050°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-70.5050°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Tocopilla, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 70 km NNW of Tocopilla, Chile on September 26, 2021 at 22:45 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000feq4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 26, 2021). M4.2 Earthquake 70 km NNW of Tocopilla, Chile — September 26, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000feq4/