4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 38 km S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador — January 27, 2024

2024-01-27 21:51:30 UTC (2024-01-27) · approx. 3:51 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:51 UTC≈ 3:51 PM UTC-6
Depth68.1 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates12.935°, -88.558°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 27, 2024 at 21:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 38 km S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador, at a depth of 68.1 km and coordinates 12.9353°, -88.5583°.

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 12.94°, -88.56°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
68.1 km
shallow crustal
Location
12.9353°N
-88.5583°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000lueu
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
42
Azimuthal Gap
133.0°
Min Station Distance
0.578°
RMS Residual
0.51 sec
Last Updated
2024-03-30 22:34:34 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 38 km S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador on January 27, 2024 at 21:51 UTC had a depth of 68.1 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: us7000lueu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, January 27, 2024). M4.2 Earthquake 38 km S of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador — January 27, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lueu/