M5.5 earthquake 52 km SW of Ovalle, Chile

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck 52 km SW of Ovalle, Chile on Wed, Sep 16, 2015, 11:59 PM GMT-3 (02:59 UTC), 35 km (22 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M6.8 39 km SW of Ovalle, Chile. This one was a foreshock.

Map

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

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

The USGS PAGER system estimates deaths and economic losses from the shaking and the population and buildings exposed to it.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

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

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: at least 201 in the 60 days after this one and 63 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of at least 201.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event us20003ke3. Read Mon, Sep 28, 2026, 3:31 PM UTC.