4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 36 km S of Copala, MexicoOctober 27, 2022

2022-10-27 14:02:07 UTC (2022-10-27) · approx. 7:02 AM UTC-7 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time14:02 UTC7:02 AM UTC-7
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates16.282°, -99.034°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 27, 2022 at 14:02 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 36 km S of Copala, Mexico, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 16.2819°, -99.0344°. This earthquake was detected by 43 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 16.28°, -99.03°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
16.2819°N
-99.0344°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ikpu
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Stations Used
43
Azimuthal Gap
164.0°
Min Station Distance
1.350°
RMS Residual
1.01 sec
Last Updated
2023-01-03 15:23:42 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Copala, Mexico?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 36 km S of Copala, Mexico on October 27, 2022 at 14:02 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 16.2819°, -99.0344°, which is 36 km S of Copala, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ikpu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 27, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 36 km S of Copala, MexicoOctober 27, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ikpu/