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Earthquake in Chile today
Was there an earthquake in Chile today? Check reported USGS epicentres, times, magnitudes and depths, or choose a longer period.
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Latest earthquakes
UpdatedUpdates every minute while this page is visible
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This describes the available catalogue, not an all-clear. Try a longer period or check the latest known event below.
The last 30 days
- Latest recorded earthquake
- No records in 30 days
- Strongest in 30 days
- No records in 30 days
- Earthquakes in the catalogue
- 0USGS
- Magnitude 4.5 or larger
- 0M ≥ 4.5
Data from USGS, updated automatically. This is not a warning; official alerts come from national authorities. Times are shown in mainland Chile time (UTC−4, or UTC−3 in summer).
Where earthquakes happen in Chile
The far north: subduction and deep quakes
Off Arica, Iquique and Antofagasta the Nazca Plate dives beneath South America, producing Antofagasta 1995 (M8.0) and Iquique 2014 (M8.2). Under the Atacama Desert the plate also breaks more than 100 km down, as near San Pedro de Atacama in 2024 (M7.4).
Central Chile: the coast and Santiago
The coast from La Serena to Valparaíso had great earthquakes in 1906 (M8.2), 1985 (M8.0) and 2015 (Illapel, M8.3). Geologists also study the San Ramón fault, an active shallow fault at the foot of the Andes on Santiago’s eastern edge.
The south: the largest earthquakes
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake (M9.5) is the largest ever recorded, and the 2010 Maule earthquake (M8.8) caused a tsunami along the coast. Both struck the south-central coast between the Maule region and Chiloé.
Major earthquakes
The largest earthquakes recorded in Chile since 1900, according to the USGS:
- 9.5Mw
Araucanía
- Depth 25 km
- 8.8Mww
Cobquecura (Ñuble)
- Depth 23 km
- 8.5Mw
Vallenar (Atacama)
- Depth 70 km
Travelling in Chile
Small felt earthquakes are part of everyday life in Chile, and modern buildings are designed to strict seismic codes. Locals often stay calm during light shaking; follow their lead and the building’s safe zones.
On the coast, signs mark tsunami evacuation routes. If shaking makes it hard to stand, walk uphill along them at once. Official warnings come from SHOA and SENAPRED; the earthquake report from the National Seismological Center (CSN).
Frequently asked questions
When was the last earthquake in Chile?
The first panel on this page shows the latest earthquake in the catalogue with Chile time. The CSN publishes the official report.
What was the largest earthquake ever recorded?
The 1960 Valdivia earthquake in southern Chile, magnitude 9.5 according to the USGS.
Why do the CSN and USGS give different magnitudes?
They use different station networks and methods, and early figures are revised.
Latest known event
Latest known event · America/Santiago
Sources and coverage
Source: USGS · GeoNames · CC BY 4.0 · Natural Earth
The location is the reported epicentre. Offshore context is separate from a position inside a country. Small-event coverage varies by region.
Historical context
The historical catalogue includes USGS M6+ from 1900, M4.5+ from 1970 and delivered events since the project began. It is not a complete record of all small earthquakes.
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