M4.5 Earthquake 52 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile — March 31, 2024
2024-03-31 17:17:52 UTC (2024-03-31) · approx. 12:17 PM UTC-5 local
On March 31, 2024 at 17:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 52 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile, at a depth of 62.1 km and coordinates -31.0444°, -71.4045°. This earthquake was detected by 33 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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
-71.4045°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Ovalle, Chile?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 52 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile on March 31, 2024 at 17:17 UTC had a depth of 62.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -31.0444°, -71.4045°, which is 52 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000m93a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 31, 2024). M4.5 Earthquake 52 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile — March 31, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000m93a/