Earthquakes in Chile — December 2024

34 earthquakes were recorded in Chile during December 2024, an average of 1.1 per day.

33 reached magnitude 4 or above and 6 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 65 km.

The month's largest event in Chile was a magnitude 6.4 earthquake near Molina, Chile on 13 December 2024 at 23:38 UTC. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake radiates roughly 60,036 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the Chile monthly average of 33 events over the period we cover, and up from the 18 recorded the previous month.

59% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 41% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.

By band, the catalogue holds 1 in the magnitude 3 range, 27 in the magnitude 4 range, 5 in the magnitude 5 range, 1 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 30 December, when 5 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M6.4 near Molina, Chile on 13 December at 109 km; M5.5 near Coquimbo, Chile on 30 December at 10 km; M5.5 near Coquimbo, Chile on 30 December at 10 km.

That is close to the 33 events Chile averages per month across the 22 months on record.