Several moderate earthquakes struck near Quintero in Chile’s Valparaíso region on Monday, July 6. The strongest measured magnitude 5.2 and was felt in the Metropolitana and O’Higgins regions.
According to the National Seismological Center of the University of Chile, the first quake struck at 12:15 local time with its epicenter 33.7 kilometers northwest of Quintero at a depth of 26.5 kilometers. It was followed by aftershocks, including one of magnitude 4.6 at 12:18.
Seismologist Luis Donoso of Universidad del Desarrollo said the activity is normal in the convergence zone between the Nazca and South American plates. “Seismicity is recurrent with a frequency over time that is neither predictable nor associated with any larger magnitude event,” he noted.
Historically, major quakes in central Chile occur every 70 to 90 years. The last one was in 1985, so the next is estimated likely between 2055 and 2075. SENAPRED reiterated safety recommendations during quakes, such as staying calm and protecting oneself under a sturdy object.
