Strong M6.9 earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.9 hit Antofagasta, Chile, at 21:52 UTC (17:52 LT) on May 25, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 101 km (63 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 103 km (64 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), there is no tsunami threat from this event.
Epicenter of M6.9 earthquake in Antofagasta region, Chile on May 25, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, ESRI
The epicenter was located 31 km (20 miles) ENE of Calama (population 143 084), and 165 km (103 miles) ESE of Tocopilla (population 24 460), Chile.
Interior Subsecretary Máximo Pavez said 22 282 homes in Calama were left without electricity and 3 000 homes without potable water because of a broken water main.
BioBioChile reported damage in supermarkets, preventive evacuation of workers at Minera Zaldívar, rockfalls on the road between Antofagasta and Calama, and dust over Chuquicamata in videos shared after the shaking.
The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA) said the earthquake characteristics did not meet the conditions necessary to generate a tsunami.
Chile’s National Seismological Center (CSN) reported at least 9 smaller earthquakes after the main event, including an M4.3 at 18:03 LT, 12 km (7 miles) NW of Calama, at a depth of 106 km (66 miles), followed by M4.2 at 18:08 LT and M3.9 at 18:11 LT.
Updates
07:20 UTC, May 26
The earthquake caused limited disruption in Antofagasta’s mining sector, with National Copper Corporation of Chile (Codelco) temporarily halting some activities because of poor visibility in pits or power interruptions in specific areas.
BHP Group and Antofagasta plc reported no operational impact, while Ricardo Munizaga, regional director of Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED), said there were no injuries or major emergencies and that key infrastructure was otherwise not affected.
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.9 earthquake Antofagasta, Chile – USGS – May 25, 2026
2 M6.8 earthquake Antofagasta, Chile – EMSC – May 25, 2026
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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