EMSC · August 31, 2026
Magnitude 3.0 earthquake — 37 km WSW of Arica, Chile
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded near 37 km WSW of Arica, Chile on Aug 31, 2026, 02:46 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-4), at a depth of about 83.1 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 18:15 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.0 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 37 km WSW of Arica, Chile
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 31, 2026, 02:46 PM — UTC-4
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-31 18:46 UTC
- Depth
- 83.1 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -18.400, -69.960
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- EMSC (Centro Sismológico Euromediterráneo)
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 534,759 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Arica | 36.9 km WSW | 241,653 |
| Putre | 47.8 km ENE | 2,765 |
| Los Palos | 52.1 km WNW | — |
| Pocollay | 52.6 km NNW | — |
| Tacna | 52.9 km NW | 286,240 |
| La Esperanza | 54.4 km NW | — |
| Calana | 56.2 km NNW | 875 |
| Pachía | 59.6 km NNW | 380 |
| Palca | 69.2 km N | 189 |
| Las Yaras | 87.1 km NW | 585 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Chile.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
16 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 4.5 38 km NNE of Cuya, Chile
M 3.6 45 km WSW of Cuya, Chile
M 3.8 14 km NE of Putre, Chile
M 3.0 28 km S of Camiña, Chile
M 3.2 28 km NNW of Palca, Peru
M 4.2 13 km WSW of Cuya, Chile
M 3.3 40 km E of Camiña, Chile
M 3.3 29 km SSW of Putre, Chile
M 3.3 37 km SW of Putre, Chile
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 37 km WSW of Arica, Chile earthquake?
Magnitude 3.0 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 83.1 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 31, 2026, 02:46 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-4). In universal time: 2026-08-31 18:46 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Small earthquakes usually pass unnoticed except very close to the epicentre.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Arica, 36.9 km WSW (population 241,653).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 8.2 (93 km NW of Iquique, Chile, 2014), and 16 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.