M4.5 Earthquake 87 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — December 17, 2024
2024-12-17 22:46:22 UTC (2024-12-17) · approx. 4:46 PM UTC-6 local
On December 17, 2024 at 22:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 87 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 11.1812°, -87.0278°. This earthquake was detected by 68 seismic stations with moderate 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.
Earthquake Details
-87.0278°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Masachapa, Nicaragua?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 87 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua on December 17, 2024 at 22:46 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 11.1812°, -87.0278°, which is 87 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua.
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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nzqj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 17, 2024). M4.5 Earthquake 87 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua — December 17, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nzqj/