January 26, 1985 Earthquake: West Central, Mendoza, LA Ligua, Argentina

Name: January 26, 1985 Earthquake: West Central, Mendoza, LA Ligua, Argentina
Start: 1985-01-26
Location: West Central, Mendoza, LA Ligua, Argentina

January 26, 1985 · M6 · 6 deaths · $5 million · 12,500 houses destroyed

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck West Central, Mendoza, LA Ligua, Argentina on January 26, 1985 at 03:07:00 UTC, 15 km below the surface. It killed 6 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: January 26, 1985
Time: 03:07:00 UTC
Place: West Central, Mendoza, LA Ligua, Argentina
Magnitude: 6 (Mw)
Focal depth: 15 km (9 mi)
Intensity: 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 33.106° S, 68.710° W
Country: Argentina

The toll

Deaths: 6
Injuries: 238
Damage: $5 million
Houses destroyed: 12,500
Houses damaged: Very many (over 1,000)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

It caused considerable damage in the departments of Gran Mendoza. Few casualties and injuries were reported. The greatest destruction was observed in the departments of Godoy Cruz and Las Heras. Old adobe or brick buildings were most affected. The intensity of the earthquake was VIII Mercalli degrees. (reference #14044)

Six killed, 238 injured, and 12,500 homes destroyed or damaged in the Mendoza area. Felt in Chile. (reference #45)

1985-01-26 03:07:00.83 UTC, 33.106 S 68.71 W, magnitude 5.95 Mw (reference #10476, v.11)

6 deaths, 238 injured (reference #1250)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1985 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1985 Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5054.