Significant M5.4 Earthquake hit 243km from Potosí in Bolivia on Thursday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on July 3rd, 2025. Last updated July 19th, 2025.

In the night of Thursday July 3rd, 2025, a significant Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit under land 243 kilometer from Potosí in Bolivia. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 0.8 million people. Chile is also near its epicenter.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Bolivia, 243 kilometer (151 mi) southwest of Potosí. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 183 km.

Date and Time:	Jul 3, 2025 01:41 (La Paz Time) - Jul 3, 2025 05:41 Universal Time.
Location:	218 km NE of Calama, Antofagasta, Chile. Coordinates 21°15'57"S 67°14'28"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 38 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.05 .
Depth:	183 km (113 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 0.8 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 0.8 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 1,180 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 450 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 600 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Bolivia , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. Roughly 200 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Chile . Roughly 50 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Argentina .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
394,500	II	Very weak	None
452,500	III	Weak	Probably none
1,180	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. Bolivia and Chile are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Located 159 kilometer (99 mi) west of the epicenter of this earthquake, Tupiza (Potosí, Bolivia) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Tupiza is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Calama is located 218 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Tarija is located 262 km to the east (intensity unknown, possibly low). Potosí is located 243 km to the north-east and experienced an intensity of II (very weak shaking, no damage).

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)
159 km (99 mi) E from epicenter	Tupiza Potosí, Bolivia.	III Weak
193 km (120 mi) ESE from epicenter	Villazón Potosí, Bolivia.	III Weak
218 km (135 mi) SW from epicenter	Calama Antofagasta, Chile.	III Weak
243 km (151 mi) NE from epicenter	Potosí Potosí, Bolivia.	II Weak
262 km (163 mi) E from epicenter	Tarija Tarija, Bolivia.

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 5 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 5 people have reported shaking in 2 places 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:

Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile: 4 people.
Calama, Antofagasta, Chile: 1 person.

3 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 3 smaller aftershocks. At a distance of 91 km (57 mi) north-east of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 17 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 4.6

Before this earthquake struck, 1 smaller foreshock occurred. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 2 days earlier. It measured a magnitude of 3.2

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 3.2	2 days earlier Jul 1, 2025 00:57 (La Paz Time)	54 km (34 mi) W from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.4	Jul 3, 2025 01:41 (La Paz Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.0	1 hr later Jul 3, 2025 02:55 (La Paz Time)	6 km (4 mi) E from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.6	17 hrs later Jul 3, 2025 18:42 (La Paz Time)	91 km (57 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.0	3 days later Jul 6, 2025 01:03 (La Paz Time)	57 km (36 mi) ESE 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).

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 May 26th, 2025, when a 5.7 magnitude earthquake hit 294 km (183 mi) further northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on July 19th, 2024.

In total, 43 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.

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 5.4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 183 km (113 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 19/07/25 06:58 (). 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.