M5.1 Earthquake 103 km WNW of La Libertad, Mexico — June 18, 2022
2022-06-18 05:00:44 UTC (2022-06-18) · approx. 9:00 PM UTC-8 local
On June 18, 2022 at 05:00 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 103 km WNW of La Libertad, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 30.1501°, -113.7326°. This earthquake was detected by 89 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
-113.7326°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near La Libertad, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 103 km WNW of La Libertad, Mexico on June 18, 2022 at 05:00 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 30.1501°, -113.7326°, which is 103 km WNW of La Libertad, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000hial). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, June 18, 2022). M5.1 Earthquake 103 km WNW of La Libertad, Mexico — June 18, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000hial/