Earthquakes in Chile — January 2025

28 earthquakes were recorded in Chile during January 2025, an average of 0.9 per day.

26 reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 78 km.

The month's largest event in Chile was a magnitude 6.1 earthquake near María Elena, Chile on 02 January 2025 at 20:43 UTC. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake radiates roughly 21,301 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the Chile monthly average of 33 events over the period we cover, and down from the 34 recorded the previous month.

43% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 57% 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 2 in the magnitude 3 range, 25 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 21 January, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M6.1 near María Elena, Chile on 02 January at 105 km; M4.7 near Camarones, Chile on 09 January at 104 km; M4.7 near Ollagüe, Chile on 21 January at 117 km.

That is 15% below the 33 events Chile averages per month across the 22 months on record.