What the record shows for Chile
The strongest earthquake on record near Chile is a magnitude 9.5 in 1960, centred 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) - 66 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 9,324 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 999 km of Chile - roughly 466 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 90 tsunamis within 999 km of Chile between 1562 and 2022. The most significant was in 1939 near Central Chile, triggered by an M8.3 earthquake, which killed around 30,000 people.
60 volcanoes are catalogued near Chile, including Planchon-Peteroa, Tinguiririca, Descabezado Grande, Azul, Cerro, Calabozos, Palomo and 54 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Chile sits above the Nazca–South American plate boundary and has recorded the largest earthquake ever measured, the 1960 M9.5 Valdivia quake.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Chile.
Earthquake risk in Chile - FAQ
Is Chile at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 466 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 999 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M9.5 in 1960.
What was the biggest earthquake in Chile?
The strongest earthquake on record near Chile is M9.5, in 1960 (1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)), from USGS.
Does Chile get tsunamis?
Yes - 90 tsunamis since 1562 (most recently 2022) within 999 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 30,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Chile?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.