Moderate mag. 3.8 earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 32 km north of Esmeraldas, Provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador, on Wednesday, 27 Jan 2021 2:30 am (GMT -5) -
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Moderate magnitude 3.8 earthquake at 8 km depth
27 Jan 07:34 UTC: First to report: IGEPN after 4 minutes.
27 Jan 07:46: Magnitude recalculated from 4.2 to 3.8. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 5.0 to 8.0 km (from 3.1 to 5 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 18 km (10.9 mi) towards NW.
27 Jan 07:46: Magnitude recalculated from 4.2 to 3.8. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 5.0 to 8.0 km (from 3.1 to 5 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 18 km (10.9 mi) towards NW.
Update Wed, 27 Jan 2021, 07:39
Light magnitude 4.2 earthquake 23 km northeast of Esmeraldas, Ecuador4.2 quake 27 Jan 2:30 am (GMT -5)
The Institute of Geophysics of the National Polytechnic School in Quito (IGEPN) reported a magnitude 4.2 quake in Ecuador near Esmeraldas, Cantón Esmeraldas, Provincia de Esmeraldas, only 9 minutes ago. The earthquake hit early morning on Wednesday 27 January 2021 at 2:30 am local time at a very shallow depth of 5 km. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake as well.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Esmeraldas (pop. 165,200) located 23 km from the epicenter.
Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Valdez (pop. 11,400) located 66 km from the epicenter, Muisne (pop. 13,400) 78 km away, San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas (pop. 20,200) 83 km away, and Rosa Zarate (pop. 42,100) 92 km away.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 4.2 earthquake as well.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Esmeraldas (pop. 165,200) located 23 km from the epicenter.
Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Valdez (pop. 11,400) located 66 km from the epicenter, Muisne (pop. 13,400) 78 km away, San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas (pop. 20,200) 83 km away, and Rosa Zarate (pop. 42,100) 92 km away.
Earthquake data:
Date & time: 27 Jan 2021 07:30:07 UTC -
Local time at epicenter: Wednesday, 27 Jan 2021 2:30 am (GMT -5)
Magnitude: 3.8
Depth: 8.0 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 1.24°N / 79.7°W

Nearest volcano: Chachimbiro (162 km / 101 mi)
Nearby towns and cities:
32 km (20 mi) N of Esmeraldas (pop: 165,200) --> See nearby quakes!
78 km (49 mi) NNE of Muisne (pop: 13,400) --> See nearby quakes!
80 km (50 mi) W of Limones (Eloy Alfaro) (pop: 11,400) --> See nearby quakes!
96 km (60 mi) W of San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas (San Lorenzo) (pop: 20,200) --> See nearby quakes!
105 km (65 mi) NNW of Rosa Zarate (pop: 42,100) --> See nearby quakes!
176 km (109 mi) NNW of Santo Domingo de los Colorados (pop: 200,400) --> See nearby quakes!
201 km (125 mi) WNW of Ibarra (pop: 133,000) --> See nearby quakes!
209 km (130 mi) NW of San Francisco de Quito (pop: 1,399,800) --> See nearby quakes!
226 km (140 mi) WNW of Tulcan (pop: 86,500) --> See nearby quakes!
357 km (222 mi) NNW of Puyo (Pastaza) (pop: 24,900) --> See nearby quakes!
Weather at epicenter at time of quake:
Light Rain
25.1°C (77 F), humidity: 83%, wind: 1 m/s (3 kts) from SW
Primary data source: IGEPN (Institute of Geophysics of the National Polytechnic School in Quito)Light Rain

Estimated released energy: 3.2 x 1010 joules (8.78 megawatt hours, equivalent to 7.56 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 3.8 | 8 km | Near Coast of Ecuador, A 30.46km De Esmeraldas | IGEPN |
M 4.2 | 5 km | NEAR COAST OF ECUADOR | EMSC |
M 3.7 | 1 km | 47 Km Al Norte De Esmeraldas, Ecuador | INETER |
User reports for this quake (73)
User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
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Medellín Colombia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : Estaba acostada boca arriba y la cama se empezó a mover algo fuerte (comparado con anteriores sismos).
582.8 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV)
715.4 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s
Cali, colombia (426.1 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : I'm in South Cali Colombia. 3 am felt like husband was bouncing on the bed. Lasted maybe 10 seconds.
595.4 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging
cali (428.1 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 5-10 s
598.8 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
414.1 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III)
100metros /300 pues (457.8 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV)
Palmira (455.8 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III)
574.5 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / very short
Medellín, Los colores (721.4 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging
428.8 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III)
426.1 km ENE of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s
pereira colombia (594.5 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Cali (316.1 km S of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)
Cali/Valle del Cauca (432.7 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s
537.5 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s
743.5 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)
408.3 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s
429.5 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s
Roldanillo (528.4 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Strong shaking (MMI VI)
428.7 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)
435 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s
425.7 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III)
416.9 km ENE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short
Pereira (598.6 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Jamundi valle (416 km ENE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex rolling (tilting in multiple directions) / 1-2 s
735 km ENE of epicenter [Map] / not felt
417.8 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV)
392.7 km ENE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)
558.7 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s
Manizales (594.9 km NE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s
598.6 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single vertical bump / 5-10 s
408.7 km ENE of epicenter [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)
450.3 km NE of epicenter [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV)
Cartago / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short
Armenia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s
Cali, valle del Cauca, Colombia / Light shaking (MMI IV)
Cartago valle / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s
Armeniia Quindio Colombia / Light shaking (MMI IV)
Medellin Colombia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Very scared
Manizales, Caldas, Colombia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Colombia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s
Medellín / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 1-2 s : A eso de las 3 AM en Medellín Antioquía Colombia me despertó algo que sacudía la cama levemente.
Armenia Quindío Colombia / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 2-5 s
colombia - Cali / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 10-15 s
quindio colombia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / very short
Guarne, Antioquia, colombia / Moderate shaking (MMI V)
Popayán n / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Dosquebradas, Risaralda, Colombia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s
Santa Rosa de Cabal / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s
Panadería Peter pan / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s
Tulua / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s : Kind of strong
Cali / Light shaking (MMI IV)
Cali, Colombia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s
Cali / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s
toro / Very weak shaking (MMI II)
Medellin / Weak shaking (MMI III)
Caicedonia / Strong shaking (MMI VI)
Tuluá / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging
cali / Light shaking (MMI IV)
Cali / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s
Colombia / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Envigado / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s
Cali / not felt / 5-10 s
Cali / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s
Medellin / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Cali colombia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s
Cali / Weak shaking (MMI III)
Popayan colombia / Very weak shaking (MMI II)
medellín / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s
Bello Antioquia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s
Earlier earthquakes in the same area since 1900
- Date / time UTC| Mag |Depth|Age|Distance| Details
- 31 Jan 1906 15:36| 8.8 |20km / 12.4mi|115 years ago|49km / 30mi| Rio Verde, 32 km E of Esmeraldas, Provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- 16 Apr 2016 23:58| 7.8 |19.2km / 11.9mi|5 years ago|100km / 62mi| 28 km S of Muisne, Provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- 14 May 1942 02:13| 7.8 |20km / 12.4mi|79 years ago|144km / 89mi| 15 km SE of Pedernales, Provincia de Manabi, Ecuador
- 12 Dec 1979 07:59| 7.7 |24km / 15mi|41 years ago|55km / 34mi| North Pacific Ocean, 66 km W of Tumaco, Narino, Colombia
- 19 Jan 1958 14:07| 7.6 |28km / 17mi|63 years ago|35km / 22mi| 19 km E of Esmeraldas, Provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador
- 04 Aug 1998 18:59| 7.2 |33km / 21mi|23 years ago|218km / 135mi| San Vicente, 3.5 km E of Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador
- 06 Mar 1987 04:10| 7.2 |10km / 6.2mi|34 years ago|242km / 150mi| Canton Pimampiro, Provincia de Imbabura, 89 km NE of San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
- 16 Jan 1956 23:37| 7.0 |20km / 12.4mi|65 years ago|226km / 140mi| 7.1 km N of Tosagua, Provincia de Manabi, Ecuador
- 01 Feb 1958 16:10| 6.9 |15km / 9.3mi|63 years ago|52km / 33mi| North Pacific Ocean, 67 km SW of Tumaco, Narino, Colombia
- 18 May 2016 16:46| 6.8 |29km / 18mi|5 years ago|89km / 55mi| 28 km NW of Rosa Zarate, Canton Quinindé, Provincia de Esmeraldas, Ecuador
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