M5.0 earthquake 54 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck 54 km NW of Valdez, Ecuador on Wed, Dec 12, 1979, 7:03 AM GMT-5 (12:03 UTC), 33 km (21 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M5.1 44 km NW of Salahonda, Colombia. 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 2.0 and up: 26 in the 60 days after this one and 4 in the 30 days before it.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp00014f6. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 4:51 PM UTC.