M4.2 Earthquake 23 km SW of Ovalle, Chile — December 21, 2023
2023-12-21 19:09:04 UTC (2023-12-21) · approx. 2:09 PM UTC-5 local
On December 21, 2023 at 19:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 23 km SW of Ovalle, Chile, at a depth of 49.8 km and coordinates -30.7428°, -71.3788°.
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.
Earthquake Details
-71.3788°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Ovalle, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 23 km SW of Ovalle, Chile on December 21, 2023 at 19:09 UTC had a depth of 49.8 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000lkq0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 21, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 23 km SW of Ovalle, Chile — December 21, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lkq0/