On Friday Morning a Significant M5.7 Earthquake struck 280km from La Rioja in Argentina.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 6th, 2024. Last updated November 5th, 2024.

In the early morning of Friday September 6th, 2024, a significant Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit under land 280 kilometer from La Rioja in Argentina. Around 0.9 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another country near the epicenter is Chile.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Argentina, 280 kilometer (174 mi) west-northwest of La Rioja. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 123 km.

Date and Time:	Sep 6, 2024 06:12 (Santiago Time) - Sep 6, 2024 10:12 Universal Time.
Location:	162 km SSE of Copiapó, Atacama, Chile. Coordinates 28°40'24"S 69°36'30"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 31 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.056 .
Depth:	123 km (76 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 0.9 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 0.9 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

An estimated 1,040 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 0.9 million) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 0.8 million people were exposed to shaking in Chile , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. In Argentina , around 60 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
7,410	II	Very weak	None
876,900	III	Weak	Probably none
1,040	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 struck within proximity of multiple countries. Chile and Argentina are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Vallenar in Atacama, Chile. Vallenar is located 113 kilometer (70 mi) east of the epicenter. Vallenar experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: Copiapó is located 162 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). La Serena is located 210 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Coquimbo is located 220 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
113 km (70 mi) W from epicenter	Vallenar Atacama, Chile.	III Weak
162 km (101 mi) NNW from epicenter	Copiapó Atacama, Chile.	III Weak
193 km (120 mi) SSE from epicenter	San José de Jáchal San Juan, Argentina.	III Weak
210 km (130 mi) SW from epicenter	La Serena Coquimbo Region, Chile.	III Weak
213 km (132 mi) ESE from epicenter	Chilecito La Rioja, Argentina.
220 km (137 mi) SW from epicenter	Coquimbo Coquimbo Region, Chile.	III Weak
258 km (160 mi) N from epicenter	Diego de Almagro Atacama, Chile.
264 km (164 mi) SW from epicenter	Ovalle Coquimbo Region, Chile.
280 km (174 mi) ESE from epicenter	La Rioja La Rioja, Argentina.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is IV.

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 3 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 3 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:

Copiapó, Atacama, Chile: 3 people.

Aftershocks detected

In the days before this main shock, 2 smaller foreshocks were detected. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 1 hr earlier. It measured a magnitude of 2.8

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 2.8	11 hrs earlier Sep 5, 2024 19:27 (Santiago Time)	84 km (52 mi) SSW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.8	1 hr earlier Sep 6, 2024 05:06 (Santiago Time)	98 km (61 mi) WSW from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.7	Sep 6, 2024 06:12 (Santiago Time)	-

More earthquakes coming?

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 happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since February 14th, 2024, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 178 km (111 mi) further west. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on November 11th, 2015.

In total, 33 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 4 months.

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 123 km (76 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 05/11/24 09:18 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.