M5.1 Earthquake 69 km W of Coquimbo, Chile — July 31, 2026
2026-07-31 17:47:07 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 12:47 PM UTC-5 local
On July 31, 2026 at 17:47 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 69 km W of Coquimbo, Chile, at a depth of 21.3 km and coordinates -29.8946°, -72.0611°. This earthquake was detected by 94 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, 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
Earthquake Details
-72.0611°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Coquimbo, Chile?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 69 km W of Coquimbo, Chile on July 31, 2026 at 17:47 UTC had a depth of 21.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -29.8946°, -72.0611°, which is 69 km W of Coquimbo, 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.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000th96). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 31, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake 69 km W of Coquimbo, Chile — July 31, 2026. Retrieved July 31, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000th96/