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Easter Island sits near the East Pacific Rise, where spreading ridges and transform faults generate regular offshore earthquakes. This page pulls real records for Easter Island: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. 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 Easter Island.
Earthquake risk in Easter Island - FAQ
Is Easter Island at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 9 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.7 in 1987.
What was the biggest earthquake in Easter Island?
The strongest earthquake on record near Easter Island is M6.7, in 1987 (114 km E of Hanga Roa, Chile), from USGS.
Does Easter Island get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1968 (most recently 1968) within 500 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Easter Island?
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.