4.6

M4.6 Earthquake 110 km SW of Jiquilillo, NicaraguaDecember 17, 2024

2024-12-17 21:03:20 UTC (2024-12-17) · approx. 3:03 PM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM4.6(mb)
Time21:03 UTC3:03 PM UTC-6
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates11.983°, -88.103°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 17, 2024 at 21:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 110 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 11.9832°, -88.1033°. This earthquake was detected by 27 seismic stations with moderate 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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 11.98°, -88.10°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.6 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
11.9832°N
-88.1033°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000nzmv
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
326
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
201.0°
Min Station Distance
1.492°
RMS Residual
1.02 sec
Last Updated
2025-02-27 17:30:51 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Jiquilillo, Nicaragua?

The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 110 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua on December 17, 2024 at 21:03 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 11.9832°, -88.1033°, which is 110 km SW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua.

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.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nzmv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 17, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 110 km SW of Jiquilillo, NicaraguaDecember 17, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nzmv/