M6.1 earthquake hits Tarapaca-Antofagasta border region, Chile
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit the Tarapaca-Antofagasta border region of Chile at 20:43 UTC on January 2, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 99 km (61 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 91 km (56 miles).
Image credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 85 km (53 miles) NNW of Calama (population 143 084) and 118 km (74 miles) ENE of Tocopilla (population 24 460), Antofagasta, Chile.
169 000 people are estimated to have felt moderate shaking and 442 000 light.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and rubble/field stone masonry construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.1 earthquake Chile – USGS – January 2, 2025
2 M6.1 earthquake Chile – EMSC – January 2, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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