M5.2 Earthquake near West Chile Rise

On November 13, 2026 at 14:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck near West Chile Rise, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -36.4434°, -97.9785°. This earthquake was detected by 44 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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 6.4 mainshock that occurred 15 days ago southeast of Easter Island. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months 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

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near West Chile Rise?

The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck near West Chile Rise on November 13, 2026 at 14:12 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 -36.4434°, -97.9785°, which is near West Chile Rise. View all earthquakes in Chile.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M6.4 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.4 mainshock that occurred earlier southeast of Easter Island. 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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

M5.2 Earthquake near West Chile Rise — November 13, 2026

Earthquake Details

Technical Information