M4.6 Earthquake 74 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile — December 23, 2023
2023-12-23 18:48:25 UTC (2023-12-23) · approx. 1:48 PM UTC-5 local
On December 23, 2023 at 18:48 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 74 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile, at a depth of 28.3 km and coordinates -28.3780°, -71.4881°. This earthquake was detected by 40 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 Chile, a region characterized by the Peru-Chile Trench, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath South America at 65-80 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-71.4881°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Vallenar, Chile?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 74 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile on December 23, 2023 at 18:48 UTC had a depth of 28.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -28.3780°, -71.4881°, which is 74 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
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 Chile had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Chile was the M9.5 Great Chilean earthquake of May 22, 1960. 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: us7000ll4d). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 23, 2023). M4.6 Earthquake 74 km WNW of Vallenar, Chile — December 23, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ll4d/