M4.0 Earthquake 19 km WSW of La Ligua, Chile — May 12, 2025
2025-05-12 23:08:02 UTC (2025-05-12) · approx. 6:08 PM UTC-5 local
On May 12, 2025 at 23:08 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 19 km WSW of La Ligua, Chile, at a depth of 67.5 km and coordinates -32.5307°, -71.4171°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 12 days ago 52 km NNW of Valparaíso, Chile. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 4 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response 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
-71.4171°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near La Ligua, Chile?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 19 km WSW of La Ligua, Chile on May 12, 2025 at 23:08 UTC had a depth of 67.5 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 52 km NNW of Valparaíso, Chile. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000pyx1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 12, 2025). M4.0 Earthquake 19 km WSW of La Ligua, Chile — May 12, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000pyx1/