On Tuesday Evening an Unusually powerful M5.9 Earthquake struck 143km from La Rioja in Argentina.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 24th, 2024. Last updated January 30th, 2025.

An unusually powerful MAG-5.9 earthquake struck under land 143 kilometer from La Rioja in Argentina in the evening of Tuesday December 24th, 2024. Around 1.1 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another country near the epicenter is Chile.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Argentina, 143 kilometer (89 mi) north-northwest of La Rioja. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 138 km.

Date and Time:	Dec 24, 2024 19:42 (La Rioja Time) - Dec 24, 2024 22:42 Universal Time.
Location:	143 km NNW of La Rioja, Argentina. Coordinates 28°12'17"S 67°21'53"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 93 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.032 .
Depth:	138 km (86 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate 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 1.1 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 1.1 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 121,600 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 1 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 1.1 million people were exposed to shaking in Argentina , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. In Chile, shaking was experienced too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
1,750	II	Very weak	None
1,017,000	III	Weak	Probably none
121,600	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

Argentina and Chile are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

Chilecito in La Rioja, Argentina is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 107 kilometer (66 mi) north of Chilecito. Chilecito experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

Major cities near this earthquake: San Miguel de Tucumán is located 261 km to the north-east (intensity unknown, possibly low). Catamarca is located 157 km to the east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). San Juan is located 387 km to the south-southwest (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)
107 km (66 mi) S from epicenter	Chilecito La Rioja, Argentina.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) SSE from epicenter	La Rioja La Rioja, Argentina.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) E from epicenter	Catamarca Catamarca, Argentina.	III Weak
192 km (119 mi) ENE from epicenter	Aguilares Tucuman, Argentina.	III Weak
217 km (135 mi) ENE from epicenter	Monteros Tucuman, Argentina.	III Weak
232 km (144 mi) NE from epicenter	Famaillá Tucuman, Argentina.	III Weak
241 km (150 mi) ENE from epicenter	Bella Vista Tucuman, Argentina.
254 km (158 mi) NE from epicenter	Yerba Buena Tucuman, Argentina.
259 km (161 mi) ENE from epicenter	Termas de Río Hondo Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
261 km (162 mi) NE from epicenter	San Miguel de Tucumán Tucuman, Argentina.
263 km (163 mi) SSW from epicenter	San José de Jáchal San Juan, Argentina.
264 km (164 mi) NE from epicenter	Tafí Viejo Tucuman, Argentina.
269 km (167 mi) NE from epicenter	Alderetes Tucuman, Argentina.
306 km (190 mi) WNW from epicenter	Copiapó Atacama, Chile.
308 km (191 mi) E from epicenter	Santiago del Estero Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
333 km (207 mi) NW from epicenter	Diego de Almagro Atacama, Chile.
335 km (208 mi) W from epicenter	Vallenar Atacama, Chile.
374 km (232 mi) SE from epicenter	Cruz del Eje Cordoba, Argentina.
376 km (234 mi) SSW from epicenter	Albardón San Juan, Argentina.
382 km (237 mi) SE from epicenter	Deán Funes Cordoba, Argentina.
382 km (237 mi) SSW from epicenter	Chimbas San Juan, Argentina.
383 km (238 mi) SSW from epicenter	Villa Paula de Sarmiento San Juan, Argentina.
387 km (240 mi) SSW from epicenter	San Juan San Juan, Argentina.
387 km (240 mi) SSW from epicenter	Santa Lucía San Juan, Argentina.
393 km (244 mi) SSW from epicenter	Caucete San Juan, Argentina.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is IV. 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 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has 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:

Santiago, Metropolitana, Chile: 1 person.

Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. At a distance of 86 km (54 mi) south of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 1 day later. It measured a magnitude of 3

Before this earthquake struck, 1 smaller foreshock occurred. A 3 magnitude earthquake hit 2 days earlier nearby.

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 3.0	2 days earlier Dec 22, 2024 12:25 (La Rioja Time)	58 km (36 mi) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.9	Dec 24, 2024 19:42 (La Rioja Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.0	1 day later Dec 26, 2024 01:03 (La Rioja Time)	86 km (54 mi) S from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

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

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 5.9 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

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 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 138 km (86 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 30/01/25 03:08 (). 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.