M4.6 Earthquake 63 km WSW of Taltal, Chile — July 9, 2021
2021-07-09 21:51:44 UTC (2021-07-09) · approx. 4:51 PM UTC-5 local
On July 9, 2021 at 21:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 63 km WSW of Taltal, Chile, at a depth of 40.6 km and coordinates -25.7102°, -71.0264°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Chile, a region characterized by the Peru-Chile Trench, where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath South America at 65-80 mm per year. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-71.0264°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Taltal, Chile?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 63 km WSW of Taltal, Chile on July 9, 2021 at 21:51 UTC had a depth of 40.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -25.7102°, -71.0264°, which is 63 km WSW of Taltal, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Chile had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Chile was the M9.5 Great Chilean earthquake of May 22, 1960. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000etwg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, July 9, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 63 km WSW of Taltal, Chile — July 9, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000etwg/