4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 91 km WSW of Copiapó, ChileDecember 13, 2023

2023-12-13 21:25:55 UTC (2023-12-13) · approx. 4:25 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:25 UTC4:25 PM UTC-5
Depth28.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-27.732°, -71.160°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 13, 2023 at 21:25 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 91 km WSW of Copiapó, Chile, at a depth of 28.6 km and coordinates -27.7315°, -71.1600°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -27.73°, -71.16°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
28.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
-27.7315°N
-71.1600°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000liru
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
21
Azimuthal Gap
189.0°
Min Station Distance
0.477°
RMS Residual
0.62 sec
Last Updated
2024-02-17 22:43:09 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Copiapó, Chile?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 91 km WSW of Copiapó, Chile on December 13, 2023 at 21:25 UTC had a depth of 28.6 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000liru). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 13, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 91 km WSW of Copiapó, ChileDecember 13, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000liru/