M5.0 Earthquake southeast of Easter Island — September 27, 2024
2024-09-27 18:35:22 UTC (2024-09-27) · approx. 12:35 PM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.6 mainshock.
On September 27, 2024 at 18:35 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck southeast of Easter Island, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -41.2103°, -90.1998°. This earthquake was detected by 69 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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 5.6 mainshock that occurred 7 hours ago southeast of Easter Island. 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.
Earthquake Details
-90.1998°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake southeast of Easter Island?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck southeast of Easter Island on September 27, 2024 at 18:35 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -41.2103°, -90.1998°, which is southeast of Easter Island.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.6 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.6 mainshock that occurred earlier southeast of Easter Island. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ngy9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, September 27, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake southeast of Easter Island — September 27, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ngy9/