M4.3 Earthquake 12 km W of Palora, Ecuador — January 18, 2023
2023-01-18 23:43:32 UTC (2023-01-18) · approx. 6:43 PM UTC-5 local
On January 18, 2023 at 23:43 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 12 km W of Palora, Ecuador, at a depth of 158.4 km and coordinates -1.7012°, -78.0794°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-78.0794°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Palora, Ecuador?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 12 km W of Palora, Ecuador on January 18, 2023 at 23:43 UTC had a depth of 158.4 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j5dh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 18, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 12 km W of Palora, Ecuador — January 18, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j5dh/