USGS · September 20, 2026
Magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Cafayate, Argentina
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was recorded near 64 km W of Cafayate, Argentina on Sep 20, 2026, 05:47 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-3), at a depth of about 10.0 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 3 people · community intensity III (weak)Shallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-20 11:17 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.3 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 64 km W of Cafayate, Argentina
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 20, 2026, 05:47 AM — UTC-3
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-20 08:47 UTC
- Depth
- 10.0 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- -25.987, -66.612
- Felt reports
- Felt by 3 people · community intensity III (weak)
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 433 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 64 seismic stations used · 54° 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
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
People who reported it described intensity III (Weak): Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
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 43,723 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Cafayate | 64.1 km E | 16,836 |
| Animaná | 66.4 km E | 1,622 |
| Molinos | 68.7 km NNE | 1,262 |
| San Carlos | 69.0 km E | 3,051 |
| Antofagasta de la Sierra | 79.8 km W | 1,185 |
| Las Mojarras | 94.0 km SE | 1,256 |
| Santa María | 96.7 km SE | 16,545 |
| Chañar Punco | 98.1 km SSE | 1,966 |
Earthquake history in this area
10 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Chile.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
33 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.4 CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA
M 3.2 CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA
M 3.1 48 km NE of Molinos, Argentina
M 3.4 34 km E of Cafayate, Argentina
M 4.5 49 km SW of Cachí, Argentina
M 3.0 CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA
M 4.7 60 km W of Cafayate, Argentina
M 3.4 SALTA, ARGENTINA
M 3.3 SALTA, ARGENTINA
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 64 km W of Cafayate, Argentina earthquake?
Magnitude 5.3 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 10.0 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Sep 20, 2026, 05:47 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-3). In universal time: 2026-09-20 08:47 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 3 people · community intensity III (weak). Felt indoors; hanging objects swing, like a passing truck.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Cafayate, 64.1 km E (population 16,836).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.6 (74 km WSW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina, 2006), and 33 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.