Latest earthquakes near Atacama, Chile today
Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near Atacama, Chile, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in Atacama? If an earthquake is happening right now near Atacama, it will show up within minutes.
Recent Atacama Earthquake News
These are the latest articles published related to earthquakes occurring near Atacama. Check our Earthquake News section for a complete overview of articles written on earthquakes near Atacama and elsewhere.
Dec 10, 2025 03:38AM
On Wednesday Night a Significant M5.2 Earthquake struck near Vallenar in Chile.
Atacama Earthquake Statistics
Average
A total of 969 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of Atacama, Chile in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 96 earthquakes per year, or 8 per month. On average an earthquake will hit near Atacama roughly every 3 days.
A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near Atacama in 2020. A total of 167 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of Atacama that year. The strongest had a 6.8 magnitude.
Magnitude Distribution
The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of Atacama in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or above have occurred near Atacama during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.
| Magnitude | Earthquakes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mag. 4 | 885 | 91.33% |
| Mag. 5 | 75 | 7.74% |
| Mag. 6 | 9 | 0.93% |
| Mag. 7 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 8 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 9 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mag. 10 | 0 | 0.0% |
Strongest earthquakes near Atacama
The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near Atacama occurred on Sep 1, 2020 00:09 local time (America/Santiago timezone). It had a magnitude of 6.8 and struck 117 kilometers (73 mi) south-west of Copiapó, at a depth of 21 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near Atacama in the list below.
A longer time ago, a MAG-8.5 earthquake struck on Nov 10, 1922 23:50, 113 kilometers (70 mi) south-west of Copiapó. It is the strongest earthquake near Atacama in the past 126 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).
In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near Atacama, Chile in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from Atacama.
Earthquakes by city in Atacama
Click the links below for earthquake reports for major places in Atacama, Chile.
Use this regional Atacama earthquake report for earthquakes that were felt in smaller towns and cities in the region, including Vallenar and Diego de Almagro.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near Atacama.
When was the last earthquake in Atacama, Chile?
A 3 magnitude earthquake hit near Atacama on the morning of January 7, 2026 at 06:11 local time (America/Santiago). The center of this earthquake was located 225km north-northeast of Copiapó at a depth of 20km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near Atacama, Chile in the past hours.
What was the strongest earthquake near Atacama, Chile?
A 8.5 magnitude earthquake hit near Atacama on the evening of November 10, 1922 at 23:50 local time (America/Santiago). The center of this earthquake was located 113km south-southeast of Copiapó at a depth of 70km under land. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near Atacama since the year 1900.
How often do earthquakes occur near Atacama, Chile?
In the past 10 years, 969 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from Atacama. This averages to 97 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 4 days.
