M4.2 Earthquake 131 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — July 18, 2026
2026-07-18 08:54:00 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 2:54 AM UTC-6 local
On July 18, 2026 at 08:54 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 131 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico, at a depth of 40.9 km and coordinates 13.8966°, -93.3043°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — 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 6.0 mainshock that occurred 18 hours ago 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 19 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-93.3043°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 131 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico on July 18, 2026 at 08:54 UTC had a depth of 40.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 90 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t1km). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 18, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 131 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t1km/