Shallow M6.5 aftershock hits near the coast of Atacama, Chile

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.5 hit near the coast of Atacama, Chile at 21:09 UTC (16:09 LT) on September 1, 2020, at a depth of 14 km (8.7 miles). EMSC is reporting it as M6.5 at a depth of 2 km (1.2 miles).

This is an aftershock of a shallow M6.8 earthquake at 04:09 UTC today.

The epicenter was located 95 km (59 miles) NW of Vallenar (population 44 895) and 122 km (76 miles) WSW of Copiapo (population 129 289), Chile.

There are about 66 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).

1 000 people are estimated to have felt strong shaking, 11 000 moderate, and 203 000 light.

There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.

According to the USGS, this area was hit by at least 19 moderate to strong earthquakes today, including three with magnitudes above 6.

Image credit: TW/SAM, Google

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Regional seismicity

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google