Worlddata.info
Earthquakes in Illapel 2015, Chile

Earthquakes in Chile

In Chile, earthquakes of the most extreme strength occur. In the case of earthquakes with a magnitude of more than 9.0, destruction and devastation can occur within a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. Compared to the size of the country, earthquakes occur with above-average frequency, but rarely with devastating damage.

Since 1950, more than 3,100 people died by the direct consequences of earthquakes. There were 47 earthquakes that also caused a subsequent tsunami, which claimed further lives, and cause additional damage.

Other natural hazards in Chile:
› Volcanoes
› Tsunamis
› The most severe earthquakes in the world

Back to overview: Chile

Severe earthquake on May 13th

In the morning of May 13th, 2024, a devastating earthquake occurred 80 km east of Constitución (Maule) at 05:18 local time. The quake had a magnitude of 5.2 points on the Richter scale and occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers. Such violent earthquakes occur only rarely. It is the strongest earthquake in Chile in 5 days. As recently as May 8th, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred about 20 km south-southwest of Ollagüe.

Most recent events

This list includes the strongest earthquakes recorded in or around Chile by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the past 14 days. Whether an event is listed here depends largely on its magnitude, but also on its distance from inhabited areas. All data refer to the local time. Due to the current situation, we update this page several times a day. The next update is expected around 19:00 UTC.

Recent earthquakes in Chile
  • May 17, 1:39 am
    Magnitude 4.7: 61 km northeast of Viña del Mar (Valpara) at a depth of ten km.
  • May 16, 9:47 pm
    Magnitude 4.1: 60 km north-northwest of Barrancas, Argentina at a depth of 177.44 km.
  • May 16, 12:18 am
    Magnitude 4.4: 108 km southeast of Copiapó at a depth of 98.22 km.
  • May 15, 10:27 pm
    Magnitude 4.3: 95 km west of Antofagasta at a depth of 86.16 km.
  • May 14, 9:45 am
    Magnitude 4.3: 21 km west of Calama (Antofagasta) at a depth of 118.23 km.
  • May 13, 11:18 pm
    Magnitude 4.8: 92 km east of Vallenar (Atacama) at a depth of 19.93 km.
  • May 13, 5:18 am
    Magnitude 5.2: 80 km east of Constitución (Maule) at a depth of ten km.
  • May 8, 6:00 am
    Magnitude 5.2: 20 km south-southwest of Ollagüe at a depth of 103.73 km.
  • May 7, 11:28 pm
    Magnitude 5.0: West Chile Rise at a depth of ten km.
  • May 7, 10:30 pm
    Magnitude 4.9: West Chile Rise at a depth of ten km.


Earthquakes in Chile since 1950

Earthquakes in Illapel 2015, ChileThe strongest earthquake in Chile happened on 05/22/1960 in the Puerto Montt, Valdivia region with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale. The shifting of tectonic plates in a depth of 17 km resulted in 2000 deaths. The earthquake also triggered a tsunami, leading to further victims and destruction.
Affected earthquake regions in Chile
DateRegionDepthMagnitudeDeathsTotal damage
12/27/2020Off Coast Central10 km6.70
09/29/2019Concepcion11 km6.81
09/26/2019South Central129 km6.11
06/14/2019Coquimbo11 km6.40
01/20/2019Coquimbo, La Serena63 km6.72
08/02/2017Santiago 5.41
04/24/2017Valparaiso22 km6.90
12/25/2016Chile 7.60
11/11/2015La Serena37 km6.90
09/16/2015Central26 km8.37
10/09/2014Easter Island Region44 km7.00
04/03/2014Northern (Iquique)11 km7.70
04/01/2014Northern (Iquique, Alto Hospicio)26 km8.27
03/16/2014Iquique 6.70
05/14/2012Arica; Peru (Tacna)40 km6.30
04/17/2012Valparaiso15 km6.72
03/25/2012Parral, Santiago6 km7.21
02/11/2011Off Coast Central30 km6.80
03/11/2010Rancagua43 km6.90
02/27/2010Maule, Concepcion, Talcahuano11 km8.8402
12/15/2007Off Central Coast, Vina Del Mar, Valparaiso27 km5.90
11/14/2007Tocopilla, Maria Elena50 km7.72
04/21/2007Southern46 km6.22
08/14/2005Tarapaca40 km5.80
06/13/2005Tarapaca33 km7.711
06/15/2004Carahue, Imperial, Temuco31 km5.90
05/03/2004Canete50 km6.60
06/20/2003Ovalle, Coquimbo; Argentina (San Juan)41 km6.80
04/18/2002Copiapo, Taltal36 km6.60
04/01/2002Central (Coquimbo, La Serena, Ovalle)32 km6.40
01/14/2002Northern (Cuya, Huara, Iquique, Pozo Almonte)26 km5.60
10/15/1997Pueblo Nuevo, Coquimbo, La Chimba33 km7.18
09/05/1996Easter Island Region14 km6.90
11/01/1995Near Central Coast32 km6.70
07/30/1995Antofagasta, Calama, Mejillones23 km8.03
02/05/1988Taltal2 km6.70
08/08/1987Arica, Iquique56 km6.95
03/05/1987Antofagasta, Arica5 km7.31
12/19/1986Central, Valparaiso29 km5.00
04/09/1985Near Central Coast, Santiago-Valparaiso59 km7.52
03/17/1985Valparaiso, Vina Del Mar38 km6.61
03/03/1985Central Coast, San Antonio, Valparaiso9 km8.0180
10/04/1983Northern (Copoapo-Chanaral)13 km7.35
10/16/1981Off Central Coast, Las Cruces42 km7.51
08/03/1978Northern (Copiapo-Taltai)17 km7.00
11/30/1976Pozo Almonte, Oficina Victoria, Arica57 km7.31
05/10/1975Central38 km7.70
03/13/1975Coquimbo, La Serena42 km6.92
08/18/1974La Union, Valdivia12 km7.10
10/05/1973Valparaiso, La Ligua, Santiago51 km6.70
12/29/1972Central1 km5.40
06/08/1972Central41 km6.60
07/09/1971Central18 km7.883
06/17/1971Catalina, Antofagasta40 km6.31
11/28/1970Northern40 km6.00
06/19/1970Northern13 km6.40
06/14/1970Southern 6.00
12/21/1967Northern23 km7.51
11/15/1967Northern54 km5.90
12/28/1966Taltal, Catalina7 km7.83
10/03/1965Southern56 km6.50
03/28/1965Central 7.3400
03/22/1965Central28 km6.00
02/23/1965Northern46 km7.00
02/14/1962Central 7.30
10/18/1961Valdivia, Curico57 km6.50
11/01/1960Concepcion59 km7.40
05/22/1960Puerto Montt, Valdivia17 km9.52000
05/21/1960Central50 km8.20
09/04/1958Chile-Argentina16 km6.87
07/29/1957Antofagasta14 km7.00
12/18/1956Antofagasta3 km0.00
01/08/1956Chile13 km7.10
04/19/1955Chile5 km7.10
12/07/1953Northern 7.43
05/06/1953Chillan, Concepcion43 km7.69
12/09/1950Chile-Argentina48 km8.01
01/30/1950Southern32 km7.00


These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Data have been summarized and translated.
International tourismThe 60 most popular travel countriesThe Most popular travel countries and ranking of international tourism over 60 countries. USA ranks 6th.
Ecuador: OverviewEcuador: country data and statisticsEcuador in numbers: demographics, economy, energy, climate and more data and comparisons with other countries.
Spain: Public HolidaysPublic holidays in Spain 2024-2028Statutory and inofficial holidays in Spain for 2024 to 2028