M5.1 Earthquake 56 km W of La Ligua, Chile — July 6, 2026
2026-07-06 16:15:51 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 11:15 AM UTC-5 local
Felt by 43 people across nearby locations.
On July 6, 2026 at 16:15 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 56 km W of La Ligua, Chile, at a depth of 21.0 km and coordinates -32.5446°, -71.8252°. This earthquake was detected by 63 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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 43 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
-71.8252°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near La Ligua, Chile?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 56 km W of La Ligua, Chile on July 6, 2026 at 16:15 UTC had a depth of 21.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -32.5446°, -71.8252°, which is 56 km W of La Ligua, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.1 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: us6000tahc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 6, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 56 km W of La Ligua, Chile — July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tahc/