Strong M6.1 Earthquake struck on Thursday Afternoon 138km from Antofagasta in Chile.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on March 6th, 2025. Last updated March 14th, 2025.

A strong M6.1 earthquake struck under land 138 kilometer from Antofagasta in Chile in the early afternoon of Thursday March 6th, 2025. Roughly 670 thousand people may have felt this earthquake. Other countries near the epicenter include Bolivia and Argentina.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Chile, 138 kilometer (86 mi) east-northeast of Antofagasta. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 94 km.

Date and Time:	Mar 6, 2025 13:21 (Santiago Time) - Mar 6, 2025 16:21 Universal Time.
Location:	138 km ENE of Antofagasta, Chile. Coordinates 23°23'29"S 69°4'23"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.1 Detected by 42 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.048 .
Depth:	94 km (58 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. 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 670 thousand people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 670 thousand 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.

Moderate shaking and very light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 6,990 people. At V, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 630 thousand) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 670 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Chile , with level V (moderate shaking, very light damage) as the highest recorded. In Bolivia and Argentina, a smaller number of people were exposed.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
37,420	III	Weak	Probably none
630,300	IV	Light	Likely none
6,990	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

Chile , Bolivia and Argentina are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Calama in Antofagasta, Chile. Calama is located 105 kilometer (65 mi) south of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Calama is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Antofagasta is located 138 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Calama is located 105 km to the north and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). San Salvador de Jujuy is located 394 km to the east-southeast (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)
105 km (65 mi) N from epicenter	Calama Antofagasta, Chile.	IV Light
138 km (86 mi) WSW from epicenter	Antofagasta Antofagasta, Chile.	IV Light
185 km (115 mi) NW from epicenter	Tocopilla Antofagasta, Chile.	III Weak
348 km (216 mi) SSW from epicenter	Diego de Almagro Atacama, Chile.
362 km (225 mi) NNW from epicenter	La Tirana Tarapacá, Chile.
363 km (226 mi) NNW from epicenter	Alto Hospicio Tarapacá, Chile.
366 km (227 mi) NNW from epicenter	Playa Brava Tarapacá, Chile.
368 km (229 mi) NNW from epicenter	Goméz Carreño Tarapacá, Chile.
368 km (229 mi) NNW from epicenter	Cavancha Tarapacá, Chile.
369 km (229 mi) NNW from epicenter	Caupolicán Tarapacá, Chile.
370 km (230 mi) NNW from epicenter	Iquique Tarapacá, Chile.
385 km (239 mi) ENE from epicenter	Villazón Potosí, Bolivia.
394 km (245 mi) ESE from epicenter	San Salvador de Jujuy Jujuy, 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 VI.

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 35 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 35 people have reported shaking in 7 places in 2 countries (Bolivia, 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:

Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile: 12 people.
Calama, Antofagasta, Chile: 9 people.
Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile: 8 people.
Tocopilla, Antofagasta, Chile: 2 people.
Santiago, Metropolitana, Chile: 2 people.
Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Bolivia: 1 person.
Copiapó, Atacama, Chile: 1 person.

9 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 9 smaller aftershocks occurred. Just 2 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.3 was detected 51 km (32 mi) north-northeast of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 3 smaller foreshocks. Roughly 2 days before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.5 was detected nearby this earthquake.

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 3.5	2 days earlier Mar 4, 2025 07:50 (Santiago Time)	86 km (54 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.7	1 day earlier Mar 5, 2025 04:42 (Santiago Time)	71 km (44 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.8	10 hrs earlier Mar 6, 2025 03:08 (Santiago Time)	87 km (54 mi) N from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 6.1	Mar 6, 2025 13:21 (Santiago Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.7	12 mins later Mar 6, 2025 13:33 (Santiago Time)	5 km (3 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	1 hr later Mar 6, 2025 14:33 (Santiago Time)	32 km (20 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.6	2 hrs later Mar 6, 2025 15:47 (Santiago Time)	34 km (21 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.7	7 hrs later Mar 6, 2025 20:15 (Santiago Time)	15 km (9 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	11 hrs later Mar 7, 2025 00:44 (Santiago Time)	68 km (42 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	2 days later Mar 8, 2025 05:57 (Santiago Time)	51 km (32 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.6	2 days later Mar 8, 2025 08:16 (Santiago Time)	42 km (26 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	2 days later Mar 8, 2025 13:53 (Santiago Time)	85 km (53 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.5	2 days later Mar 8, 2025 15:07 (Santiago Time)	30 km (19 mi) NE 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.

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 July 19th, 2024, when a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit 131 km (81 mi) further east-northeast. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 11 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.1 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.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. 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 6.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 94 km (58 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 14/03/25 16:38 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.