M4.2 Earthquake 21 km E of Calama, Chile — September 9, 2026
2026-09-09 04:17:34 UTC (2026-09-09) · approx. 11:17 PM UTC-5 local
On September 9, 2026 at 04:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 21 km E of Calama, Chile, at a depth of 120.2 km and coordinates -22.4236°, -68.7204°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-68.7204°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Calama, Chile?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 21 km E of Calama, Chile on September 9, 2026 at 04:17 UTC had a depth of 120.2 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tfzh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 9, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 21 km E of Calama, Chile — September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 27, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tfzh/