M4.5 Earthquake 59 km ENE of Palca, Peru — August 27, 2026
2026-08-27 17:40:41 UTC (2026-08-27) · approx. 12:40 PM UTC-5 local
On August 27, 2026 at 17:40 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 59 km ENE of Palca, Peru, at a depth of 144.0 km and coordinates -17.5706°, -69.4412°. This earthquake was detected by 65 seismic stations with excellent 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.
The epicenter is located in Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-69.4412°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Palca, Peru?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 59 km ENE of Palca, Peru on August 27, 2026 at 17:40 UTC had a depth of 144.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -17.5706°, -69.4412°, which is 59 km ENE of Palca, Peru. View all earthquakes in Peru.
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.
Has Peru had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. Today's magnitude 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tcc3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 27, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 59 km ENE of Palca, Peru — August 27, 2026. Retrieved September 8, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tcc3/