Strong earthquake with magnitude 5.9 struck Antofagasta, Chile
Image credit: Google Earth + USGS
Strong earthquake struck Chile again. On May 19, 2012 at 8:35 UTC magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Antofagasta, Chile. Recorded depth according to USGS was 25 km (15.5 miles). Epicenter location was 54 km (33 miles) SW of Taltal, Antofagasta, Chile (25.783°S, 70.793°W).
Universidad de Chile is reporting a magnitude of 6.1 at a depth of 37 km. 92 km al NO de Chañaral and the epicenter located approx. 40 km out of the coast.
It is currently night in Chile and the earthquake parameters are not strong enough to generate a tsunami.
All data are still preliminary.
Strongest shaking values are noticed at the following locations: Caldera : MMI VI (strong shaking); Copiapo and Tierra Amarilla, both MMI V (moderate shaking).
| Magnitude | 5.9 |
|---|---|
| Date-Time |
|
| Location | 25.783°S, 70.793°W |
| Depth | 25 km (15.5 miles) |
| Region | OFFSHORE ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE |
| Distances | 54 km (33 miles) SW of Taltal, Antofagasta, Chile 181 km (112 miles) NNW of Copiapo, Atacama, Chile 240 km (149 miles) S of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile 849 km (527 miles) N of SANTIAGO, Region Metropolitana, Chile |
| Location Uncertainty | horizontal +/- 13.2 km (8.2 miles); depth +/- 4.6 km (2.9 miles) |
| Parameters | NST=508, Nph=530, Dmin=139.1 km, Rmss=0.97 sec, Gp= 40°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=C |
| Source |
|
| Event ID | usb0009tam |
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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