M4.9 Earthquake 199 km SSE of Burica, Panama — March 24, 2025
2025-03-24 03:16:13 UTC (2025-03-24) · approx. 9:16 PM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On March 24, 2025 at 03:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 199 km SSE of Burica, Panama, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 6.2660°, -82.5083°. This earthquake was detected by 49 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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 5.4 mainshock that occurred 12 days ago 192 km S of Burica, Panama. 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
-82.5083°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Burica, Panama?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 199 km SSE of Burica, Panama on March 24, 2025 at 03:16 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 6.2660°, -82.5083°, which is 199 km SSE of Burica, Panama.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 192 km S of Burica, Panama. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pm52). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 24, 2025). M4.9 Earthquake 199 km SSE of Burica, Panama — March 24, 2025. Retrieved May 29, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pm52/