M4.9 Earthquake 27 km NNE of Mazo Cruz, Peru — December 31, 2022
2022-12-31 23:04:12 UTC (2022-12-31) · approx. 6:04 PM UTC-5 local
On December 31, 2022 at 23:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 27 km NNE of Mazo Cruz, Peru, at a depth of 190.4 km and coordinates -16.5013°, -69.6590°. This earthquake was detected by 105 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 Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-69.6590°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Mazo Cruz, Peru?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 27 km NNE of Mazo Cruz, Peru on December 31, 2022 at 23:04 UTC had a depth of 190.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.5013°, -69.6590°, which is 27 km NNE of Mazo Cruz, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
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 Peru had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j1b1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 31, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 27 km NNE of Mazo Cruz, Peru — December 31, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j1b1/