M5.3 Earthquake 222 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama — June 19, 2023
2023-06-19 05:19:11 UTC (2023-06-19) · approx. 12:19 AM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On June 19, 2023 at 05:19 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 222 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 5.9842°, -82.3534°. This earthquake was detected by 267 seismic stations with excellent 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred 24 days ago 210 km S of Burica, Panama. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-82.3534°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Río Grande, Panama?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 222 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama on June 19, 2023 at 05:19 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 5.9842°, -82.3534°, which is 222 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 210 km S of Burica, Panama. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k9il). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, June 19, 2023). M5.3 Earthquake 222 km SSW of Río Grande, Panama — June 19, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k9il/