M5.0 Earthquake 53 km W of Cafayate, Argentina — September 9, 2026
2026-09-09 10:06:57 UTC (43 min ago) · approx. 6:06 AM UTC-4 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On September 9, 2026 at 10:06 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 53 km W of Cafayate, Argentina, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -26.1386°, -66.5049°. This earthquake was detected by 67 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — 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 3 days ago 69 km E of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Argentina. 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.
Earthquake Details
-66.5049°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Cafayate, Argentina?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 53 km W of Cafayate, Argentina on September 9, 2026 at 10:06 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -26.1386°, -66.5049°, which is 53 km W of Cafayate, Argentina.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 69 km E of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Argentina. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tg12). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 9, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 53 km W of Cafayate, Argentina — September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tg12/