M5.2 Earthquake 52 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina — December 14, 2023
2023-12-14 14:57:30 UTC (2023-12-14) · approx. 10:57 AM UTC-4 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On December 14, 2023 at 14:57 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 52 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina, at a depth of 189.7 km and coordinates -24.0695°, -66.8093°. This earthquake was detected by 69 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 43 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina. 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
-66.8093°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 52 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina on December 14, 2023 at 14:57 UTC had a depth of 189.7 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -24.0695°, -66.8093°, which is 52 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 43 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000liz5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 14, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake 52 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina — December 14, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000liz5/