M5.0 Earthquake 35 km NW of El Cardo, Peru — May 3, 2023
2023-05-03 02:11:11 UTC (2023-05-03) · approx. 9:11 PM UTC-5 local
On May 3, 2023 at 02:11 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 35 km NW of El Cardo, Peru, at a depth of 65.8 km and coordinates -16.3605°, -72.9385°. This earthquake was detected by 71 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
-72.9385°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near El Cardo, Peru?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 35 km NW of El Cardo, Peru on May 3, 2023 at 02:11 UTC had a depth of 65.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.3605°, -72.9385°, which is 35 km NW of El Cardo, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jxn0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 3, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 35 km NW of El Cardo, Peru — May 3, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jxn0/