USGS · September 23, 2026
Magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Aimogasta, Argentina
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was recorded near 51 km WSW of Arauco, Argentina on Sep 23, 2026, 06:21 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-3), at a depth of about 121.5 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 2 people · community intensity IV (light)Intermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-23 10:47 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.3 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 51 km WSW of Arauco, Argentina
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 23, 2026, 06:21 AM — UTC-3
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-23 09:21 UTC
- Depth
- 121.5 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -28.730, -67.291
- Felt reports
- Felt by 2 people · community intensity IV (light)
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 433 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 99 seismic stations used · 29° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
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.
People who reported it described intensity IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 270,081 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Famatina | 30.9 km SW | — |
| Aminga | 37.5 km ESE | — |
| San Blas | 40.8 km NNE | — |
| Sañogasta | 44.1 km SSE | — |
| Aimogasta | 50.8 km ENE | 16,625 |
| Arauco | 51.4 km ENE | 13,720 |
| Chilecito | 52.1 km SSW | 42,248 |
| Villa Bustos | 67.2 km SSE | 2,165 |
| Tinogasta | 78.5 km NNW | 13,617 |
| La Rioja | 87.0 km SSE | 178,872 |
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
3 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 51 km WSW of Arauco, Argentina
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 51 km WSW of Arauco, Argentina earthquake?
Magnitude 5.3 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 121.5 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?
Sep 23, 2026, 06:21 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-3). In universal time: 2026-09-23 09:21 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 2 people · community intensity IV (light). Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Famatina, 30.9 km SW.
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.4 (12 km SSW of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina, 2004), and 3 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), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.