Significant M5.7 Earthquake struck on Thursday Morning 126km from Oruro in Bolivia.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 5th, 2024. Last updated November 3rd, 2024.

A significant Magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck under land 126 kilometer from Oruro in Bolivia in the early morning of Thursday September 5th, 2024. Around 3.3 million people have been exposed to shaking.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Bolivia, 126 kilometer (78 mi) south of Oruro. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 231 km.

Date and Time:	Sep 5, 2024 06:38 (La Paz Time) - Sep 5, 2024 10:38 Universal Time.
Location:	126 km south of Oruro, Bolivia. Coordinates 19°6'15"S 67°18'1"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 46 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.046 .
Depth:	231 km (144 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Tsunami's are usually caused by MAG-6.5+ earthquakes, less than 100km shallow, and with an epicenter under sea. Neither of this seems to be the case. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 3.3 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 3.3 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is III, which corresponds with weak shaking and probably no damage. Roughly 1,803,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Bolivia , around 3.3 million people, with impact levels up to III (weak shaking, probably no damage). People were exposed to shaking in Chile as well.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
1,467,000	II	Very weak	None
1,803,000	III	Weak	Probably none
0	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Bolivia . Located 103 kilometer (64 mi) south-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Huanuni (Oruro, Bolivia) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Huanuni is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Cochabamba is located 226 km to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Oruro is located 126 km to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Sucre is located 214 km to the east (intensity unknown, possibly low).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
103 km (64 mi) NNE from epicenter	Huanuni Oruro, Bolivia.	III Weak
107 km (66 mi) NE from epicenter	Llallagua Potosí, Bolivia.	II Weak
126 km (78 mi) N from epicenter	Oruro Oruro, Bolivia.	III Weak
171 km (106 mi) ESE from epicenter	Potosí Potosí, Bolivia.	II Weak
209 km (130 mi) NNE from epicenter	Sipe Sipe Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
214 km (133 mi) E from epicenter	Sucre Chuquisaca, Bolivia.
217 km (135 mi) NNE from epicenter	Vinto Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
219 km (136 mi) NNE from epicenter	Quillacollo Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
222 km (138 mi) NNE from epicenter	Colcapirhua Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
226 km (140 mi) NNE from epicenter	Cochabamba Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
227 km (141 mi) NNE from epicenter	Tiquipaya Cochabamba, Bolivia.	II Weak
232 km (144 mi) NE from epicenter	Sacaba Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
233 km (145 mi) NE from epicenter	Punata Cochabamba, Bolivia.	III Weak
244 km (152 mi) ENE from epicenter	Mizque Cochabamba, Bolivia.
293 km (182 mi) NNW from epicenter	Viacha La Paz, Bolivia.
295 km (183 mi) NNW from epicenter	Achocalla La Paz, Bolivia.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is III. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 5 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 5 people have reported shaking in one place in Chile.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile: 5 people.

Risk of aftershocks?

We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since December 2nd, 2023, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 197 km (122 mi) further west. An even stronger magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck on March 23rd, 2015.

In total, 7 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.7 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every year.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

It is very unlikely that this eartquake will cause any tsunami's. The reported magnitude is lower than the MAG-6.5 strength required to cause any earthquakes. In addition, this earthquake was not very shallow and appears to have occurred under land. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.7. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 231 km (144 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 03/11/24 19:18 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.