Earthquake of magnitude 6.9 shakes northern Chile

Published at: 26/05/2026 08:13 AM

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.9 was recorded on Monday in northern Chile, with an epicenter located 20 kilometers northeast of the city of Calama. The earthquake, which occurred at 05:52 in the morning local time, was strongly felt in the regions of Antofagasta, Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá and Atacama, causing alarm among the population and preventive power cuts affecting more than 27,000 customers.

The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) immediately began monitoring the area to assess effects on people and infrastructure. According to preliminary reports, the earthquake reached an intensity of VI on the Mercalli scale in communes such as Antofagasta, Tocopilla, Mejillones and Sierra Gorda, causing objects to fall, interruptions to basic services and minor damage to some commercial and residential structures.

The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy ruled out the possibility of a tsunami off the country's coast because it did not meet the necessary conditions for such a phenomenon. Local authorities keep emergency protocols active in the face of the occurrence of several aftershocks, which have been recorded by the National Seismological Center of the University of Chile after the main event.

The mayor of Calama, Eliecer Chamorro Vargas, reported that emergency teams are deployed in the territory to verify the status of residents, especially vulnerable groups and older adults. While the inspection work continues, the Chilean government has called for calm and to follow the instructions of the authorities in the face of the possibility of new seismic movements in the coming hours.

Mazo News Team