M4.6 Earthquake 58 km SSE of Palca, Peru — February 2, 2024
2024-02-02 05:31:11 UTC (2024-02-02) · approx. 12:31 AM UTC-5 local
On February 2, 2024 at 05:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 58 km SSE of Palca, Peru, at a depth of 122.9 km and coordinates -18.2566°, -69.7215°. This earthquake was detected by 31 seismic stations with excellent 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 Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-69.7215°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Palca, Peru?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 58 km SSE of Palca, Peru on February 2, 2024 at 05:31 UTC had a depth of 122.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -18.2566°, -69.7215°, which is 58 km SSE of Palca, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
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 Peru had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. 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: us7000lw6n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, February 2, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 58 km SSE of Palca, Peru — February 2, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lw6n/