A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near the coast of central Chile on Wednesday morning, sending tremors across a broad region including the capital Santiago, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ).
The quake hit at 8:43 am local time (11:43 UTC) at a depth of 44 kilometres, with its epicentre located approximately 27 kilometres northwest of Ovalle in the Coquimbo region. The relatively shallow depth meant the earthquake was felt more strongly near the epicentre than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would have been.
Initial reports from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) placed the earthquake’s magnitude slightly higher at 5.8 before it was revised to 5.5 by multiple monitoring agencies. No immediate reports of casualties or significant structural damage have emerged, though authorities continue to assess the situation.
Widespread Tremors Felt Across Central Chile
The earthquake was felt across a vast area spanning hundreds of kilometres, with residents in Santiago, located 310 kilometres from the epicentre, reporting light to moderate shaking. The Chilean capital, home to approximately 4.8 million people, experienced what seismologists classified as weak shaking on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
Closer to the epicentre, the coastal city of Coquimbo, with a population of over 160,000, likely experienced more noticeable shaking. La Serena, located 95 kilometres north of the epicentre, and Viña del Mar, 253 kilometres to the south, also reported feeling the tremors.
Within hours of the initial quake, monitoring services had received over 60 reports from Chilean residents describing their experiences. The majority of reports came from Santiago, with additional confirmations from La Serena and Viña del Mar, indicating the earthquake’s broad impact zone extended between 300 and 700 kilometres from the epicentre.
Part of Chile’s Highly Active Seismic Zone
Wednesday’s earthquake occurred in one of the world’s most seismically active regions, where the Nazca tectonic plate pushes beneath the South American continental plate at a rate of approximately 7 centimetres per year. This subduction zone, running along Chile’s Pacific coast through the Atacama Trench, regularly produces significant earthquakes.
The Coquimbo region has a particularly notable seismic history. The area experienced a devastating magnitude 8.2 earthquake in September 2015, centred near Illapel, which killed 15 people and triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific. That earthquake, which struck just 40 kilometres west of Illapel, demonstrated the region’s vulnerability to major seismic events.
Historical records show that at least 15 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or higher have occurred within 400 kilometres of Wednesday’s epicentre over the past century. The last major earthquake in the immediate area was the 1943 Ovalle earthquake, which reached a magnitude between 7.9 and 8.2.
No Tsunami Warning Issued
Despite the earthquake’s coastal proximity, Chilean authorities did not issue a tsunami warning. At magnitude 5.5 and with a depth of 44 kilometres, the earthquake was not powerful enough to generate significant seafloor displacement necessary for tsunami formation.
Chile’s extensive tsunami preparedness system, developed after numerous coastal disasters including the 2010 earthquake and tsunami that killed over 500 people, remained on standby but was not activated. The country’s coastal evacuation protocols, which can affect up to one million people when implemented, were not triggered for this event.
The absence of a tsunami threat was welcome news for coastal communities still rebuilding from previous disasters. The port city of Coquimbo, which suffered heavy damage from the 2015 tsunami with fishing vessels swept into streets and widespread flooding, was spared any wave action from Wednesday’s quake.
Chile’s Earthquake Preparedness Tested
Wednesday’s earthquake, whilst moderate in magnitude, served as another test of Chile’s world-leading earthquake preparedness systems. The country experiences an average of 80 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or higher annually, making it one of the most seismically active nations globally.
Following the catastrophic 2010 Maule earthquake that killed 525 people, Chile has invested heavily in earthquake-resistant building codes, early warning systems, and public education campaigns. These improvements have been credited with significantly reducing casualties in subsequent earthquakes, including the relatively low death toll from the 2015 Illapel earthquake despite its magnitude 8.2 power.
Buildings in the affected region are predominantly constructed to resist earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures including adobe block and rubble masonry buildings remain in rural areas. The prevalence of earthquake-resistant construction has helped prevent widespread damage from moderate earthquakes like Wednesday’s event.
Recent Seismic Activity in the Region
The earthquake follows a pattern of significant seismic activity in central Chile throughout October. Just two weeks earlier, on 2 October, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck 93 kilometres southwest of Coquimbo at a depth of 19 kilometres, affecting over 410,000 people within a 100-kilometre radius of the epicentre.
That earlier October earthquake produced several aftershocks, including five with magnitudes exceeding 2.5 and the strongest reaching magnitude 4.9. The clustering of moderate earthquakes in the Coquimbo region has kept residents on alert, though seismologists note such activity patterns are typical for this highly active subduction zone.
Chile has already recorded 6,925 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or higher in 2025, maintaining its position as one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries. The nation averages approximately 21 earthquakes daily when including smaller tremors, with a magnitude 5.0 or greater event occurring roughly every four to five days.
Global Context and Monitoring
The earthquake was detected and reported by multiple international seismic monitoring agencies, including Germany’s GFZ, the EMSC, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The rapid detection and reporting demonstrate the effectiveness of global earthquake monitoring networks in tracking seismic events worldwide.
The USGS assessed the earthquake as presenting a “green alert” for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses, indicating a low likelihood of casualties and damage. This assessment was based on the earthquake’s moderate magnitude, significant depth, and the region’s earthquake-resistant infrastructure.
International seismologists continue to monitor the region for potential aftershocks, which typically decrease in frequency and intensity over time. While the probability of a larger earthquake following this event remains statistically low at approximately 6%, authorities maintain vigilance given the region’s history of producing major seismic events.
Looking Ahead
As Chile continues to navigate life in one of Earth’s most seismically active zones, Wednesday’s earthquake serves as a reminder of the constant geological forces at work beneath the nation. The country’s ongoing investments in earthquake preparedness, from building codes to public education, remain crucial for protecting lives and infrastructure.
The Coquimbo region, situated along the highly active Peru-Chile Trench, will continue experiencing regular seismic activity as part of the natural tectonic processes that have shaped the Andes Mountains over millions of years. Residents have adapted to this reality, maintaining earthquake kits, practicing evacuation procedures, and building resilience into their communities.
Chilean seismologists continue analysing data from Wednesday’s earthquake to refine their understanding of regional seismic patterns and improve future earthquake forecasting capabilities. While predicting exactly when and where earthquakes will strike remains impossible, ongoing research helps authorities better prepare for inevitable future events.
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