M4.5 Earthquake 27 km S of Ovalle, Chile — July 1, 2025
2025-07-01 19:44:13 UTC (2025-07-01) · approx. 2:44 PM UTC-5 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On July 1, 2025 at 19:44 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 27 km S of Ovalle, Chile, at a depth of 59.0 km and coordinates -30.8453°, -71.2330°. This earthquake was detected by 53 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 39 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
-71.2330°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Ovalle, Chile?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 27 km S of Ovalle, Chile on July 1, 2025 at 19:44 UTC had a depth of 59.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -30.8453°, -71.2330°, which is 27 km S of Ovalle, Chile. View all earthquakes in Chile.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 39 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qa1z). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, July 1, 2025). M4.5 Earthquake 27 km S of Ovalle, Chile — July 1, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qa1z/