Significant M5.7 Earthquake hit 103km from Iquique in Chile on Sunday Evening.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 26th, 2025. Last updated June 17th, 2025.

A significant MAG-5.7 earthquake struck under land 103 kilometer from Iquique in Chile just before midnight of Sunday May 25th, 2025. Roughly 1 million people may have felt this earthquake. Other nearby countries are Peru and Bolivia.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Chile, 103 kilometer (64 mi) north-east of Iquique in Tarapacá. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 105 km.

Date and Time:	May 25, 2025 23:50 (Santiago Time) - May 26, 2025 03:50 Universal Time.
Location:	103 km NE of Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile. Coordinates 19°36'7"S 69°24'50"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 58 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.041 .
Depth:	105 km (65 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 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 1 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.

Moderate shaking and very light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 10 people. At V, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 520 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be 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 70 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Bolivia . In Peru , around 350 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
2,520	II	Very weak	None
524,200	III	Weak	Probably none
504,600	IV	Light	Likely none
10	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

3 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Chile , Peru and Bolivia .

Located 103 kilometer (64 mi) north-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Iquique (Tarapacá, Chile) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Iquique 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 103 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Tacna is located 197 km to the north-northwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Arica is located 156 km to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
103 km (64 mi) SW from epicenter	Iquique Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
103 km (64 mi) SW from epicenter	Goméz Carreño Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
103 km (64 mi) SW from epicenter	Caupolicán Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) SW from epicenter	Alto Hospicio Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) SW from epicenter	Playa Brava Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
104 km (65 mi) SW from epicenter	Cavancha Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
106 km (66 mi) SW from epicenter	La Tirana Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
156 km (97 mi) NW from epicenter	Arica Arica y Parinacota, Chile.	IV Light
197 km (122 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tacna Tacna, Peru.	III Weak
289 km (180 mi) SSW from epicenter	Tocopilla Antofagasta, Chile.
299 km (186 mi) NE from epicenter	Oruro Oruro, Bolivia.
299 km (186 mi) NW from epicenter	Ilo Moquegua, Peru.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. 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 47 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 47 people have reported shaking in 6 places in 2 countries (Chile, Peru).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: 31 people.
Arica, Tarapacá, Chile: 11 people.
Calama, Antofagasta, Chile: 2 people.
Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile: 1 person.
Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru: 1 person.
Tacna, Tacna, Peru: 1 person.

6 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 6 smaller aftershocks occurred. A 3.8 magnitude earthquake hit 2 days later 91 km (57 mi) south-east of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 1 smaller foreshock. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 11 hrs earlier. It measured a magnitude of 3.3

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 3.3	11 hrs earlier May 25, 2025 12:42 (Santiago Time)	85 km (53 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.7	May 25, 2025 23:50 (Santiago Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.5	14 hrs later May 26, 2025 14:09 (Santiago Time)	45 km (28 mi) S from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.5	24 hrs later May 26, 2025 23:39 (Santiago Time)	92 km (57 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	1 day later May 27, 2025 02:06 (Santiago Time)	75 km (46 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.0	1 day later May 27, 2025 02:09 (Santiago Time)	95 km (59 mi) SSE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.8	2 days later May 28, 2025 01:45 (Santiago Time)	91 km (57 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.8	3 days later May 28, 2025 22:45 (Santiago Time)	80 km (50 mi) WNW 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 January 2nd, 2025, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 237 km (147 mi) further south. An even stronger magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on January 21st, 2018.

In total, 12 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 10 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 105 km (65 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 17/06/25 06:08 (). 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.