4.3

M4.3 Earthquake 54 km SSW of Calama, ChileJuly 16, 2026

2026-07-16 02:09:51 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 9:09 PM UTC-5 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time02:09 UTC9:09 PM UTC-5
Depth101.5 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-22.882°, -69.180°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 16, 2026 at 02:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 54 km SSW of Calama, Chile, at a depth of 101.5 km and coordinates -22.8823°, -69.1802°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -22.88°, -69.18°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
101.5 km
intermediate depth
Location
-22.8823°N
-69.1802°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000t0v3
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Stations Used
29
Azimuthal Gap
92.0°
Min Station Distance
0.402°
RMS Residual
0.93 sec
Last Updated
2026-07-16 03:02:49 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Calama, Chile?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 54 km SSW of Calama, Chile on July 16, 2026 at 02:09 UTC had a depth of 101.5 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t0v3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 16, 2026). M4.3 Earthquake 54 km SSW of Calama, ChileJuly 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t0v3/