Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes northern Chile, no tsunami threat

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck northern Chile’s Antofagasta region on Monday afternoon, according to the National Seismological Center at the University of Chile. The tremor occurred at 5:52 p.m. local time (2152GMT), with its epicenter located 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) south of the city of Calama. Authorities reported no initial fatalities. Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service quickly confirmed that the earthquake’s characteristics did not meet the conditions required to trigger a tsunami along the Chilean coastline.

Seismic context

Chile sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Nazca and South American tectonic plates collide, generating frequent seismic activity. Since 1570, Chile has endured roughly 100 major earthquakes, nearly 30 of which exceeded magnitude 8.0. On average, a quake of magnitude 8.0 or higher strikes once every decade. The 1960 Valdivia earthquake, magnitude 9.5, is the largest ever recorded. It triggered a devastating tsunami with 10-meter waves, destroying southern Chile’s coastal infrastructure and reaching as far as Japan. Official estimates place the death toll at over 2,000.

Recent deadly quakes

Chile’s last major seismic disaster, “27F,” occurred on Feb. 27, 2010, registering magnitude 8.8—the second-strongest in the nation’s history. Over 500 people died. The most lethal quake in Chilean history struck on Jan. 24, 1939, a magnitude 8.3 that devastated Chillan, killing an estimated 24,000 to 30,000 people.