M4.9 Earthquake 86 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico — February 9, 2024
2024-02-09 13:22:53 UTC (2024-02-09) · approx. 6:22 AM UTC-7 local
On February 9, 2024 at 13:22 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 86 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico, at a depth of 8.4 km and coordinates 26.1820°, -110.5001°. This earthquake was detected by 104 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-110.5001°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Loreto, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 86 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico on February 9, 2024 at 13:22 UTC had a depth of 8.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 26.1820°, -110.5001°, which is 86 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000lxzi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, February 9, 2024). M4.9 Earthquake 86 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico — February 9, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lxzi/