USGS · November 11, 2026
Magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Calama, Chile
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake was recorded near 27 km WSW of Calama, Chile on Nov 11, 2026, 08:36 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-3), at a depth of about 91.3 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 1 person · community intensity II (weak)Intermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-11-12 01:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.1 · body-wave magnitude
- Location
- 27 km WSW of Calama, Chile
- Local time at the epicentre
- Nov 11, 2026, 08:36 AM — UTC-3
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-11-11 11:36 UTC
- Depth
- 91.3 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -22.543, -69.169
- Felt reports
- Felt by 1 person · community intensity II (weak)
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 400 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 77 seismic stations used · 65° 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 II (Weak): Felt by a few people at rest, mostly on upper floors.
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 166,334 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 174,933 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Calama | 27.0 km ENE | 166,334 |
| Sierra Gorda | 41.6 km SSW | 1,069 |
| María Elena | 55.2 km WNW | 7,530 |
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
39 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.6 33 km SW of Calama, Chile
M 3.5 52 km SW of Calama, Chile
M 3.3 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
M 3.5 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
M 3.4 57 km W of Baquedano, Chile
M 3.9 36 km WSW of Calama, Chile
M 3.7 12 km NNE of Calama, Chile
M 3.0 43 km SW of Calama, Chile
M 3.2 40 km SW of Calama, Chile
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 27 km WSW of Calama, Chile earthquake?
Magnitude 5.1 (body-wave magnitude), at a depth of 91.3 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?
Nov 11, 2026, 08:36 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC-3). In universal time: 2026-11-11 11:36 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 1 person · community intensity II (weak). Felt by a few people at rest, mostly on upper floors.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Calama, 27.0 km ENE (population 166,334).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 8.0 (36 km NNE of Antofagasta, Chile, 1995), and 39 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.