Recent earthquakes in Argentina
Argentina's earthquakes are concentrated along its western edge, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath South America under the Andes, straining faults through the provinces of San Juan and Mendoza. The rest of the country is largely stable. The 1944 San Juan earthquake (M7.0) destroyed the city and remains Argentina's deadliest natural disaster. In the past 24 hours, Argentina has recorded 1 earthquake, the largest an M4.6 (20 km NNW of La Ligua, Chile).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | Oct 26, 20:52 UTC | 48 km | 20 km NNW of La Ligua, Chile |
| M4.2 | Oct 26, 00:55 UTC | 19 km | 50 km W of Valparaíso, Chile |
| M4.3 | Oct 25, 13:23 UTC | 136 km | 40 km ESE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| M4.2 | Oct 23, 03:59 UTC | 50 km | 46 km NNW of La Serena, Chile |
| M4.5 | Oct 23, 00:09 UTC | 186 km | 102 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina |
| M4.4 | Oct 22, 01:08 UTC | 103 km | 30 km NW of Albardón, Argentina |
Notable recent activity
An M4.6 earthquake struck 20 km NNW of La Ligua, Chile at 20:52 UTC on Oct 26 at a depth of 48 km.
An M4.5 earthquake struck 102 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina at 00:09 UTC on Oct 23 at a depth of 186 km.
An M4.4 earthquake struck 30 km NW of Albardón, Argentina at 01:08 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 103 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Argentina have earthquakes?
Along Argentina's western border the Nazca Plate subducts beneath South America, deforming the Andes and the foreland provinces of San Juan and Mendoza. Most of Argentina's seismicity is concentrated in this narrow western belt.
Which part of Argentina has the most earthquakes?
The Cuyo region — especially San Juan and Mendoza provinces — is the most seismically active, sitting closest to the Andean deformation front. Eastern and central Argentina experience very few earthquakes.
What was the biggest earthquake in Argentina?
The January 15, 1944 San Juan earthquake, magnitude 7.0, destroyed much of the city and killed about 10,000 people, Argentina's deadliest natural disaster. The 1861 Mendoza earthquake was similarly catastrophic for that city.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.