Recent earthquakes in Bolivia
Bolivia's seismicity ranges from shallow earthquakes along the Andes in the west to some of the deepest earthquakes on Earth beneath the interior, where the subducted Nazca slab sinks into the mantle. In 1994, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck at about 630 km depth — the largest deep-focus earthquake ever recorded. Shallow Andean earthquakes pose the greater hazard to populated areas. In the past 24 hours, Bolivia has recorded 1 earthquake, the largest an M4.9 (100 km E of La Tirana, Chile).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.9 | Oct 26, 19:36 UTC | 120 km | 100 km E of La Tirana, Chile |
| M4.7 | Oct 25, 17:11 UTC | 62 km | 19 km NE of Atico, Peru |
| M4.3 | Oct 25, 13:23 UTC | 136 km | 40 km ESE of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| M4.2 | Oct 24, 17:14 UTC | 124 km | 74 km W of Ollagüe, Chile |
| M4.5 | Oct 23, 02:45 UTC | 236 km | 58 km SW of Atocha, Bolivia |
| M4.5 | Oct 23, 00:09 UTC | 186 km | 102 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina |
| M4.6 | Oct 22, 21:37 UTC | 142 km | 49 km S of Ollagüe, Chile |
| M2.8 | Oct 21, 21:15 UTC | 51 km | 20 km SE of Alto Hospicio, Chile |
Notable recent activity
An M4.9 earthquake struck 100 km E of La Tirana, Chile at 19:36 UTC on Oct 26 at a depth of 120 km.
An M4.7 earthquake struck 19 km NE of Atico, Peru at 17:11 UTC on Oct 25 at a depth of 62 km.
An M4.6 earthquake struck 49 km S of Ollagüe, Chile at 21:37 UTC on Oct 22 at a depth of 142 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Bolivia have deep earthquakes?
Beneath Bolivia, the Nazca Plate has subducted far into the mantle, and earthquakes occur on this slab at depths of several hundred kilometres. These deep-focus events are felt over great distances but rarely damage the surface.
Does Bolivia get damaging earthquakes?
Bolivia's most hazardous earthquakes are shallow ones along the Andes in the west, near cities such as La Paz and Cochabamba. The 1998 Aiquile earthquake (M6.6), for example, caused deaths and damage in the central valleys.
What was the biggest earthquake in Bolivia?
The June 9, 1994 Bolivia earthquake, magnitude 8.2 at about 630 km depth, is the largest deep-focus earthquake ever recorded. It was felt as far away as North America but caused little damage because of its extreme depth.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.