Recent earthquakes in Chile
Chile lies along the boundary where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate at roughly 7 cm per year, one of the fastest and most productive subduction zones on Earth. This Peru-Chile (Atacama) Trench has generated more great earthquakes than any other region. The 1960 Valdivia earthquake here, magnitude 9.5, is the largest ever instrumentally recorded. In the past 24 hours, Chile has recorded 2 earthquakes, the largest an M4.8 (26 km WSW of Santa Cruz, Chile).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3.2 | Jul 28, 06:05 UTC | 72 km | 13 km SSE of La Tirana, Chile |
| M4.8 | Jul 28, 05:38 UTC | 53 km | 26 km WSW of Santa Cruz, Chile |
| M4.6 | Jul 28, 01:37 UTC | 36 km | 38 km S of Mendoza, Argentina |
| M4.1 | Jul 27, 17:19 UTC | 59 km | 8 km NNE of Quilpué, Chile |
| M4.6 | Jul 27, 10:24 UTC | 105 km | 61 km E of La Tirana, Chile |
| M5.4 | Jul 27, 08:57 UTC | 107 km | 82 km SSW of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| M4.3 | Jul 26, 21:44 UTC | 184 km | 109 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina |
| M4.5 | Jul 26, 17:29 UTC | 157 km | 53 km N of Arauco, Argentina |
| M4.4 | Jul 26, 13:36 UTC | 193 km | 47 km WNW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina |
| M5.3 | Jul 24, 19:38 UTC | 194 km | 39 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina |
| M4.8 | Jul 24, 15:34 UTC | 10 km | 50 km NNW of Fiambalá, Argentina |
| M4.3 | Jul 24, 07:41 UTC | 146 km | 35 km ENE of Palca, Peru |
| M4.6 | Jul 23, 12:47 UTC | 10 km | 158 km W of Ovalle, Chile |
| M4.2 | Jul 23, 07:48 UTC | 40 km | 45 km WSW of La Ligua, Chile |
| M4.8 | Jul 23, 02:38 UTC | 96 km | 33 km NNW of El Cardo, Peru |
| M4.7 | Jul 23, 01:56 UTC | 96 km | 72 km S of Calama, Chile |
| M4.8 | Jul 22, 17:34 UTC | 112 km | 53 km SSW of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| M4.6 | Jul 22, 11:37 UTC | 126 km | 103 km S of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| M4.3 | Jul 22, 11:12 UTC | 113 km | 58 km NE of Calama, Chile |
| M5.1 | Jul 22, 09:34 UTC | 10 km | 121 km NW of Vallenar, Chile |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.4 earthquake struck 82 km SSW of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile at 08:57 UTC on Jul 27 at a depth of 107 km.
A moderate M5.3 earthquake struck 39 km NW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina at 19:38 UTC on Jul 24 at a depth of 194 km.
A moderate M5.1 earthquake struck 121 km NW of Vallenar, Chile at 09:34 UTC on Jul 22 at a depth of 10 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes does Chile get?
Chile experiences hundreds of felt earthquakes each year and a magnitude 8 or larger event roughly once a decade on average. Nearly all stem from the Nazca Plate grinding beneath South America off the coast.
Why does Chile have such large earthquakes?
The Nazca Plate subducts rapidly beneath Chile along a long, relatively straight offshore boundary. This geometry lets strain build over broad areas and release in very large megathrust ruptures.
What was the biggest earthquake in Chile?
The May 22, 1960 Valdivia earthquake, magnitude 9.5, is the largest earthquake ever recorded on instruments anywhere in the world. It ruptured roughly 1,000 km of the plate boundary and sent a tsunami across the Pacific.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.