M4.5 Earthquake 71 km WSW of Puerto Casma, Peru — August 31, 2026
2026-08-31 01:08:05 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 8:08 PM UTC-5 local
On August 31, 2026 at 01:08 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 71 km WSW of Puerto Casma, Peru, at a depth of 59.4 km and coordinates -9.6152°, -79.0145°. This earthquake was detected by 38 seismic stations with good 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
-79.0145°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Puerto Casma, Peru?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 71 km WSW of Puerto Casma, Peru on August 31, 2026 at 01:08 UTC had a depth of 59.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -9.6152°, -79.0145°, which is 71 km WSW of Puerto Casma, 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: us7000td1g). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 31, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 71 km WSW of Puerto Casma, Peru — August 31, 2026. Retrieved August 31, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000td1g/