M4.5 earthquake — 50 km NW of Valparaíso, Chile
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 50 km NW of Valparaíso, Chile on Aug 16, 2026 at 16:57 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -32.733, -72.039 |
| Time | Aug 16, 16:57 UTC |
| Location | 50 km NW of Valparaíso, Chile |
| USGS event ID | usd0015e90 |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.8 | 120 km | Sep 3, 21:18 UTC | 29 km WSW of Salamanca, Chile |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.