M3.7 earthquake 81 km NW of Vallenar, Chile

A magnitude 3.7 earthquake struck 81 km NW of Vallenar, Chile on Thu, Jul 5, 1973, 1:13 AM GMT-4 (05:13 UTC), 33 km (21 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M5.6 81 km W of Copiapó, Chile. This one was a foreshock.

Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 17 in the 60 days after this one and 3 in the 30 days before it.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp00002jb. Read Sun, Sep 27, 2026, 8:01 PM UTC.