M4.3 Earthquake 15 km NNE of Calama, Chile — January 12, 2023
2023-01-12 16:12:41 UTC (2023-01-12) · approx. 11:12 AM UTC-5 local
On January 12, 2023 at 16:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 15 km NNE of Calama, Chile, at a depth of 105.6 km and coordinates -22.3179°, -68.8832°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Earthquake Details
-68.8832°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Calama, Chile?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 15 km NNE of Calama, Chile on January 12, 2023 at 16:12 UTC had a depth of 105.6 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j3xf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 12, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 15 km NNE of Calama, Chile — January 12, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j3xf/