4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 68 km W of La Ligua, ChileSeptember 28, 2025

2025-09-28 21:31:07 UTC (2025-09-28) · approx. 4:31 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:31 UTC4:31 PM UTC-5
Depth30.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-32.347°, -71.953°
Felt by1DYFI response
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 28, 2025 at 21:31 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 68 km W of La Ligua, Chile, at a depth of 30.2 km and coordinates -32.3472°, -71.9528°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 3 days ago 52 km NNW of Valparaíso, Chile. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 3 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -32.35°, -71.95°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M4.2 earthquake near 68 km W of La Ligua, Chile

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
30.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
-32.3472°N
-71.9528°E
Felt Reports
1
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
1.0
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000rdhs
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
185.0°
Min Station Distance
0.721°
RMS Residual
0.37 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-11 21:40:50 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near La Ligua, Chile?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 68 km W of La Ligua, Chile on September 28, 2025 at 21:31 UTC had a depth of 30.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 52 km NNW of Valparaíso, Chile. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rdhs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, September 28, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake 68 km W of La Ligua, ChileSeptember 28, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rdhs/