M4.6 Earthquake 75 km WSW of Paita, Peru — August 22, 2023
2023-08-22 21:13:15 UTC (2023-08-22) · approx. 4:13 PM UTC-5 local
On August 22, 2023 at 21:13 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 75 km WSW of Paita, Peru, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -5.3188°, -81.7522°. This earthquake was detected by 26 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
-81.7522°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Paita, Peru?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 75 km WSW of Paita, Peru on August 22, 2023 at 21:13 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -5.3188°, -81.7522°, which is 75 km WSW of Paita, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kq78). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 22, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 75 km WSW of Paita, Peru — August 22, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kq78/