M5.3 Earthquake 172 km WNW of Constitución, Chile — May 26, 2022
2022-05-26 12:14:19 UTC (2022-05-26) · approx. 7:14 AM UTC-5 local
On May 26, 2022 at 12:14 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 172 km WNW of Constitución, Chile, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -34.4852°, -73.9978°. This earthquake was detected by 32 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
-73.9978°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Constitución, Chile?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 172 km WNW of Constitución, Chile on May 26, 2022 at 12:14 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -34.4852°, -73.9978°, which is 172 km WNW of Constitución, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000hcmq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 26, 2022). M5.3 Earthquake 172 km WNW of Constitución, Chile — May 26, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000hcmq/