Light mag. 4.2 earthquake - Departamento de Susques, 80 km west of Abra Pampa, Departamento de Cochinoca, Jujuy, Argentina, on Tuesday, 19 Jan 2021 8:56 pm (GMT -3) -
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Light magnitude 4.2 earthquake at 279 km depth
20 Jan 00:21 UTC: First to report: USGS after 25 minutes.
Update Wed, 20 Jan 2021, 00:27
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake strikes near Abra Pampa, Departamento de Cochinoca, Jujuy, Argentina4.2 quake 19 Jan 8:56 pm (GMT -3)
A intermediate to deep magnitude 4.2 earthquake was reported in the evening near Abra Pampa, Departamento de Cochinoca, Jujuy, Argentina.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit on Tuesday 19 January 2021 at 8:56 pm local time at an intermediate to considerable depth of 279.3 km. The strength of the earthquake may have been tempered by its relative great depth below the surface, which makes it feel weaker in absolute terms. Magnitude and other quake parameters can still change in the coming hours as the agency continues to process seismic data.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake as well.
According to preliminary calculations, we do not expect that the quake was felt by many people and did not cause any damage. In Abra Pampa (pop. 9,400, 80 km away), and El Aguilar (pop. 3,700, 82 km away), the quake was probably not felt.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit on Tuesday 19 January 2021 at 8:56 pm local time at an intermediate to considerable depth of 279.3 km. The strength of the earthquake may have been tempered by its relative great depth below the surface, which makes it feel weaker in absolute terms. Magnitude and other quake parameters can still change in the coming hours as the agency continues to process seismic data.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake as well.
According to preliminary calculations, we do not expect that the quake was felt by many people and did not cause any damage. In Abra Pampa (pop. 9,400, 80 km away), and El Aguilar (pop. 3,700, 82 km away), the quake was probably not felt.
Earthquake data:
Date & time: 19 Jan 2021 23:56:59 UTC -
Local time at epicenter: Tuesday, 19 Jan 2021 8:56 pm (GMT -3)
Magnitude: 4.2
Depth: 279.3 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 22.9626°S / 66.429°W

Nearest volcano: Uturuncu (109 km / 68 mi)
Nearby towns and cities:
80 km (50 mi) WSW of Abra Pampa (Cochinoca) (pop: 9,430) --> See nearby quakes!
179 km (111 mi) NW of San Salvador de Jujuy (pop: 305,900) --> See nearby quakes!
190 km (118 mi) NW of Palpala (pop: 48,200) --> See nearby quakes!
192 km (119 mi) WNW of Libertador General San Martin (pop: 49,300) --> See nearby quakes!
213 km (132 mi) NW of San Pedro de Jujuy (pop: 58,400) --> See nearby quakes!
216 km (134 mi) W of Oran (Salta) (pop: 74,100) --> See nearby quakes!
228 km (141 mi) NNW of Salta (pop: 512,700) --> See nearby quakes!
274 km (170 mi) W of Tartagal (Salta) (pop: 60,800) --> See nearby quakes!
446 km (277 mi) NNW of Tucuman (pop: 781,000) --> See nearby quakes!
453 km (282 mi) SSW of Sucre (Chuquisaca, Bolivia) (pop: 224,800) --> See nearby quakes!
Weather at epicenter at time of quake:
Broken Clouds
3.6°C (39 F), humidity: 91%, wind: 3 m/s (6 kts) from NE
Primary data source: USGS (United States Geological Survey)Broken Clouds

Estimated released energy: 1.3 x 1011 joules (35 megawatt hours, equivalent to 30.1 tons of TNT) More info
Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies
Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Magnitude | Depth | Location | Source |
M 4.2 | 279 km | 79 Km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina | USGS |
M 4.2 | 279 km | JUJUY, ARGENTINA | EMSC |
User reports for this quake
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There are no user reports for this quake yet. If you felt it Earlier earthquakes in the same area since 1900
- Date / time UTC| Mag |Depth|Age|Distance| Details
- 09 Dec 1950 21:38| 8.2 |114km / 71mi|70 years ago|189km / 117mi| El Loa, 255 km E of Antofagasta, Chile
- 29 Nov 1957 22:19| 7.7 |233km / 144mi|63 years ago|226km / 140mi| 56 km S of Uyuni, Antonio Quijarro, Departamento de Potosi, Bolivia
- 12 May 2000 18:43| 7.2 |225km / 140mi|21 years ago|65km / 40mi| Departamento de Susques, 138 km NW of San Salvador de Jujuy, Departamento de Doctor Manuel Belgrano, Jujuy, Argentina
- 23 Jan 1997 02:15| 7.1 |276km / 172mi|24 years ago|130km / 81mi| 16 km NW of Villazon, Modesto Omiste, Departamento de Potosi, Bolivia
- 24 May 1993 23:51| 7.0 |221km / 137mi|28 years ago|34km / 21mi| Departamento de Rinconada, 87 km W of Abra Pampa, Departamento de Cochinoca, Jujuy, Argentina
- 01 Apr 1987 01:48| 7.0 |249km / 155mi|34 years ago|32km / 20mi| 52 km W of Abra Pampa, Departamento de Cochinoca, Jujuy, Argentina
- 21 Feb 1971 10:35| 6.9 |184km / 114mi|50 years ago|119km / 74mi| Departamento de Los Andes, 207 km NW of Salta, Departamento Capital, Salta, Argentina
- 11 Feb 2015 18:57| 6.7 |198km / 123mi|6 years ago|20km / 12mi| Departamento de Susques, 186 km NW of San Salvador de Jujuy, Departamento de Doctor Manuel Belgrano, Jujuy, Argentina
- 01 Sep 1987 04:26| 6.7 |199km / 124mi|34 years ago|14km / 9mi| Departamento de Susques, 93 km SW of Abra Pampa, Departamento de Cochinoca, Jujuy, Argentina
- 21 Jul 2007 15:34| 6.4 |290km / 180mi|14 years ago|112km / 70mi| 20 km W of La Quiaca, Departamento de Yavi, Jujuy, Argentina
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