4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 91 km SSW of Antofagasta, ChileMarch 15, 2023

2023-03-15 21:35:21 UTC (2023-03-15) · approx. 4:35 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mwr)
Time21:35 UTC4:35 PM UTC-5
Depth32.3 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-24.367°, -70.841°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 15, 2023 at 21:35 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 91 km SSW of Antofagasta, Chile, at a depth of 32.3 km and coordinates -24.3668°, -70.8414°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -24.37°, -70.84°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mwr
Depth
32.3 km
shallow crustal
Location
-24.3668°N
-70.8414°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000jk9s
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
31
Azimuthal Gap
127.0°
Min Station Distance
0.475°
RMS Residual
0.80 sec
Last Updated
2023-05-20 23:20:28 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Antofagasta, Chile?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 91 km SSW of Antofagasta, Chile on March 15, 2023 at 21:35 UTC had a depth of 32.3 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jk9s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 15, 2023). M4.0 Earthquake 91 km SSW of Antofagasta, ChileMarch 15, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jk9s/