On Tuesday Evening a Significant M5.4 Earthquake struck 106km from Iquique in Chile.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on March 25th, 2025. Last updated March 30th, 2025.

Under land 106 kilometer from Iquique in Chile, a significant M5.4 earthquake occurred in the evening of Tuesday March 25th, 2025. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 680 thousand people. Another country near the epicenter is Peru.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Chile, 106 kilometer (66 mi) east of Iquique in Tarapacá. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 99 km.

Date and Time:	Mar 25, 2025 19:55 (Santiago Time) 5 days ago - Mar 25, 2025 22:55 Universal Time.
Location:	106 km east of Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile. Coordinates 20°13'27"S 69°8'3"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 25 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.062 .
Depth:	99 km (62 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate 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 680 thousand people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 680 thousand have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

Moderate shaking and very light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 35,430 people. At V, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 350 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. In Chile , around 610 thousand people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Roughly 60 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Bolivia . Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of Peru too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
300	II	Very weak	None
297,400	III	Weak	Probably none
345,500	IV	Light	Likely none
35,430	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 Peru are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Alto Hospicio in Tarapacá, Chile. Alto Hospicio is located 101 kilometer (63 mi) east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Alto Hospicio is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Iquique is located 106 km to the west and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). Alto Hospicio is located 101 km to the west and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Tacna is located 272 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

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)
101 km (63 mi) W from epicenter	Alto Hospicio Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) W from epicenter	La Tirana Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) W from epicenter	Playa Brava Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) W from epicenter	Goméz Carreño Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) W from epicenter	Caupolicán Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
105 km (65 mi) W from epicenter	Cavancha Tarapacá, Chile.	V Moderate
106 km (66 mi) W from epicenter	Iquique Tarapacá, Chile.	V Moderate
230 km (143 mi) NNW from epicenter	Arica Arica y Parinacota, Chile.	III Weak
235 km (146 mi) SSW from epicenter	Tocopilla Antofagasta, Chile.
249 km (155 mi) S from epicenter	Calama Antofagasta, Chile.
272 km (169 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tacna Tacna, Peru.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is V.

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 32 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 32 people have reported shaking in 3 places, all within 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: 27 people.
Arica, Tarapacá, Chile: 4 people.
Calama, Antofagasta, Chile: 1 person.

9 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 9 smaller aftershocks. At a distance of 99 km (62 mi) south of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 3 days later. It measured a magnitude of 3.6

Before this earthquake struck, 4 smaller foreshocks occurred. A 2.6 magnitude earthquake hit 22 hrs 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 2.6	3 days earlier Mar 23, 2025 04:19 (Santiago Time)	64 km (40 mi) S from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.6	2 days earlier Mar 23, 2025 08:12 (Santiago Time)	71 km (44 mi) S from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.5	1 day earlier Mar 24, 2025 14:29 (Santiago Time)	80 km (49 mi) S from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 2.6	22 hrs earlier Mar 24, 2025 22:24 (Santiago Time)	71 km (44 mi) S from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.4	Mar 25, 2025 19:55 (Santiago Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.9	10 mins later Mar 25, 2025 20:05 (Santiago Time)	15 km (10 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.6	12 mins later Mar 25, 2025 20:07 (Santiago Time)	9 km (6 mi) WSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.6	15 mins later Mar 25, 2025 20:11 (Santiago Time)	6 km (4 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	1 hr later Mar 25, 2025 21:24 (Santiago Time)	96 km (60 mi) S from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	2 hrs later Mar 25, 2025 22:20 (Santiago Time)	6 km (3 mi) WNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.2	5 hrs later Mar 26, 2025 00:32 (Santiago Time)	9 km (6 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	1 day later Mar 26, 2025 23:44 (Santiago Time)	1.8 km (1.1 mi) WSW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	1 day later Mar 27, 2025 06:48 (Santiago Time)	86 km (54 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.6	3 days later Mar 28, 2025 08:00 (Santiago Time)	99 km (62 mi) S from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

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 January 2nd, 2025, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 165 km (103 mi) further south. An even stronger magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on January 21st, 2018.

In total, 38 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 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 3 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.

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 5.4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 99 km (62 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 30/03/25 22:48 (6 hours ago). 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.