M5.3 Earthquake 282 km W of Puerto Chacabuco, Chile — December 30, 2022
2022-12-30 05:19:18 UTC (2022-12-30) · approx. 12:19 AM UTC-5 local
On December 30, 2022 at 05:19 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 282 km W of Puerto Chacabuco, Chile, at a depth of 12.9 km and coordinates -45.8405°, -76.4020°. This earthquake was detected by 72 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Chile, a region characterized by the Peru-Chile Trench, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath South America at 65-80 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-76.4020°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Puerto Chacabuco, Chile?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 282 km W of Puerto Chacabuco, Chile on December 30, 2022 at 05:19 UTC had a depth of 12.9 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -45.8405°, -76.4020°, which is 282 km W of Puerto Chacabuco, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Chile had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Chile was the M9.5 Great Chilean earthquake of May 22, 1960. Today's magnitude 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j10i). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 30, 2022). M5.3 Earthquake 282 km W of Puerto Chacabuco, Chile — December 30, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j10i/