M4.8 Earthquake 87 km WNW of Puerto, Chile — March 20, 2026
2026-03-20 20:06:54 UTC (2026-03-20) · approx. 3:06 PM UTC-5 local
Felt by 3 people across nearby locations.
On March 20, 2026 at 20:06 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 87 km WNW of Puerto, Chile, at a depth of 16.4 km and coordinates -19.9846°, -70.9580°. This earthquake was detected by 148 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 355, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 3 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
-70.9580°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Puerto, Chile?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 87 km WNW of Puerto, Chile on March 20, 2026 at 20:06 UTC had a depth of 16.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -19.9846°, -70.9580°, which is 87 km WNW of Puerto, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000shxy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 20, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 87 km WNW of Puerto, Chile — March 20, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000shxy/