Earthquakes in Chile — May 2026

56 earthquakes were recorded in Chile during May 2026, an average of 1.8 per day.

55 reached magnitude 4 or above and 4 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 84 km.

The month's largest event in Chile was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Calama, Chile on 25 May 2026 at 21:52 UTC. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake radiates roughly 337,605 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Chile monthly average of 33 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 28 recorded the previous month.

39% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 61% 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, 51 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range, 2 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 25 May, when 6 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M6.9 near Calama, Chile on 25 May at 109 km; M6.0 near Valparaíso, Chile on 31 May at 16 km; M5.5 near Cañete, Chile on 10 May at 34 km.

That is 67% above the 33 events Chile averages per month across the 21 months on record.

This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in Chile in our entire catalogue.