M4.5 Earthquake 19 km NNW of Güiria, Venezuela — August 11, 2023
2023-08-11 21:45:46 UTC (2023-08-11) · approx. 5:45 PM UTC-4 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On August 11, 2023 at 21:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 19 km NNW of Güiria, Venezuela, at a depth of 85.9 km and coordinates 10.7463°, -62.3385°. This earthquake was detected by 35 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 10 days ago 26 km SSW of Güiria, Venezuela. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-62.3385°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Güiria, Venezuela?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 19 km NNW of Güiria, Venezuela on August 11, 2023 at 21:45 UTC had a depth of 85.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 10.7463°, -62.3385°, which is 19 km NNW of Güiria, Venezuela.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 26 km SSW of Güiria, Venezuela. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kp8i). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 11, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 19 km NNW of Güiria, Venezuela — August 11, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kp8i/