M4.2 Earthquake 79 km SSW of Arica, Chile — August 31, 2022
2022-08-31 20:14:19 UTC (2022-08-31) · approx. 3:14 PM UTC-5 local
On August 31, 2022 at 20:14 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 79 km SSW of Arica, Chile, at a depth of 43.1 km and coordinates -19.1074°, -70.6612°.
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
-70.6612°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Arica, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 79 km SSW of Arica, Chile on August 31, 2022 at 20:14 UTC had a depth of 43.1 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: us7000i446). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, August 31, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 79 km SSW of Arica, Chile — August 31, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000i446/