M5.2 Earthquake 69 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — July 18, 2026
2026-07-18 09:59:22 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 3:59 AM UTC-6 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On July 18, 2026 at 09:59 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 69 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico, at a depth of 44.9 km and coordinates 14.3207°, -92.9174°. This earthquake was detected by 38 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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 5.3 mainshock that occurred 5 hours ago 87 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 14 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-92.9174°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 69 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico on July 18, 2026 at 09:59 UTC had a depth of 44.9 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 14.3207°, -92.9174°, which is 69 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 87 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t1l4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 18, 2026). M5.2 Earthquake 69 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — July 18, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t1l4/