Significant M5.7 Earthquake struck on Sunday Afternoon 124km from Iquique in Chile.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on February 8th, 2026.

Under land 124 kilometer from Iquique in Chile, a significant Magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the early afternoon of Sunday February 8th, 2026. Around 710 thousand people have been exposed to shaking. Peru is also near its epicenter.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Chile, 124 kilometer (77 mi) east of Iquique in Tarapacá. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 119 km.

Date and Time:	Feb 8, 2026 13:23 (Santiago Time) - Feb 8, 2026 16:23 Universal Time.
Location:	124 km east of Iquique, Tarapacá, Chile. Coordinates 20°5'60"S 68°57'51"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 31 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.056 .
Depth:	119 km (74 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 710 thousand people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 710 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.

An estimated 375,600 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 3 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Chile , around 620 thousand people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Roughly 70 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Bolivia . In Peru, shaking was experienced too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
5,390	II	Very weak	None
324,200	III	Weak	Probably none
375,600	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

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

Located 121 kilometer (75 mi) east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Alto Hospicio (Tarapacá, Chile) is the nearest significant population center. 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).

Major cities near this earthquake: Iquique is located 124 km to the west and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Tacna is located 269 km to the north-northwest (intensity unknown, possibly low). Alto Hospicio is located 121 km to the west 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)
121 km (75 mi) W from epicenter	Alto Hospicio Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
123 km (76 mi) W from epicenter	La Tirana Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
123 km (76 mi) W from epicenter	Goméz Carreño Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
123 km (76 mi) W from epicenter	Playa Brava Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
123 km (76 mi) W from epicenter	Caupolicán Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
124 km (77 mi) W from epicenter	Iquique Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
124 km (77 mi) W from epicenter	Cavancha Tarapacá, Chile.	IV Light
229 km (142 mi) NW from epicenter	Arica Arica y Parinacota, Chile.	III Weak
256 km (159 mi) SSW from epicenter	Tocopilla Antofagasta, Chile.
262 km (163 mi) S from epicenter	Calama Antofagasta, Chile.
269 km (167 mi) NNW from epicenter	Tacna Tacna, Peru.

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 23 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 23 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: 21 people.
Arica, Tarapacá, Chile: 2 people.

Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. At a distance of 90 km (56 mi) south-southeast of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 4 hrs later. It measured a magnitude of 2.5

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 12 hrs earlier. It measured a magnitude of 3.7

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 3.7	12 hrs earlier Feb 8, 2026 01:21 (Santiago Time)	73 km (45 mi) S from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.7	Feb 8, 2026 13:23 (Santiago Time)	-
Aftershock	M 2.5	4 hrs later Feb 8, 2026 17:06 (Santiago Time)	90 km (56 mi) SSE 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 January 2nd, 2025, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 180 km (112 mi) further south. An even stronger magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on January 21st, 2018.

In total, 14 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 9 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 119 km (74 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 08/02/26 22:18 (). 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.