M4.5 Earthquake 106 km ESE of Ollagüe, Chile — July 17, 2026
2026-07-17 22:59:11 UTC (4 hours ago) · approx. 6:59 PM UTC-4 local
On July 17, 2026 at 22:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 106 km ESE of Ollagüe, Chile, at a depth of 203.6 km and coordinates -21.6796°, -67.3522°. This earthquake was detected by 25 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.
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
-67.3522°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Ollagüe, Chile?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 106 km ESE of Ollagüe, Chile on July 17, 2026 at 22:59 UTC had a depth of 203.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -21.6796°, -67.3522°, which is 106 km ESE of Ollagüe, 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.
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: us7000t1hp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 17, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 106 km ESE of Ollagüe, Chile — July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t1hp/