M4.8 Earthquake 70 km NW of San Alejandro, Peru — February 23, 2024
2024-02-23 14:07:29 UTC (2024-02-23) · approx. 9:07 AM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On February 23, 2024 at 14:07 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 70 km NW of San Alejandro, Peru, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -8.4583°, -75.7396°. This earthquake was detected by 49 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred 6 days ago 66 km WNW of San Alejandro, Peru. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
-75.7396°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near San Alejandro, Peru?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 70 km NW of San Alejandro, Peru on February 23, 2024 at 14:07 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -8.4583°, -75.7396°, which is 70 km NW of San Alejandro, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 66 km WNW of San Alejandro, Peru. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000m12y). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, February 23, 2024). M4.8 Earthquake 70 km NW of San Alejandro, Peru — February 23, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000m12y/