M4.3 Earthquake 38 km WSW of Taltal, Chile — December 9, 2023
2023-12-09 20:54:23 UTC (2023-12-09) · approx. 3:54 PM UTC-5 local
On December 9, 2023 at 20:54 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 38 km WSW of Taltal, Chile, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -25.4950°, -70.8523°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-70.8523°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Taltal, Chile?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 38 km WSW of Taltal, Chile on December 9, 2023 at 20:54 UTC had a depth of 35.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000lht9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 9, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 38 km WSW of Taltal, Chile — December 9, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lht9/