EarthBrowserEarthquake · Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Magnitude 2.8 earthquake 20 km SE of Alto Hospicio, Chile
A magnitude 2.8 (micro) earthquake struck 20 km SE of Alto Hospicio, Chile on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at , at a depth of 51 km (shallow).
- Magnitude
- 2.8Micro
- Depth
- 51km · shallow
- Time
- Epicenter
- 20.37° S
69.95° W - Aftershocks so far
- 11within 250 km
- Largest aftershock
- 4.9M
20 days ago · USGS id us6000u3ye · last revised
The full globe opens the 3D cross-section: the hypocenter at depth, the plate boundary and subducting slab where there is one, the aftershock sequence as it grows, and the sea floor around an offshore epicenter.
What a magnitude 2.8 means
Micro earthquakes are generally not felt and are recorded only by seismographs.
A magnitude 2.8 releases about 32 times the seismic energy of a magnitude 1.8, roughly the energy of 0 tonnes of TNT. Magnitude measures the energy released at the source; how hard the ground shook at any one place depends on distance, depth and local geology, and is reported separately as intensity.
Shallow earthquakes (under 70 km) release their energy close to the surface, so shaking is stronger and more damaging near the epicenter than for a deeper quake of the same size.
Nearby earthquakes and aftershocks
This event is part of a sequence: a larger magnitude 5.1 struck 131 km away on Oct 9, 10:22 UTC, so this is most likely one of its aftershocks.
| Time (UTC) | Magnitude | Depth | Distance | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 69 km | 77 km | 46 km NW of Huara, Chile | |
| 4.5 | 111 km | 193 km | 57 km SW of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| 3.6 | 26 km | 68 km | 49 km WSW of Puerto, Chile | |
| 4.1 | 119 km | 200 km | 57 km SW of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| 4.3 | 107 km | 155 km | 25 km NNE of Camiña, Chile | |
| 4.2 | 124 km | 152 km | 52 km W of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| 4.1 | 117 km | 136 km | 70 km W of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| 4.5 | 120 km | 215 km | 55 km SSW of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| 4.9 | 120 km | 131 km | 100 km E of La Tirana, Chile | |
| 4.2 | 124 km | 145 km | 74 km W of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| 4.5 | 140 km | 225 km | 55 km S of Ollagüe, Chile | |
| before | 4.2 | 127 km | 207 km | 57 km SSW of Ollagüe, Chile |
| before | 4.3 | 69 km | 41 km | 14 km SE of Huara, Chile |
| before | 4.9 | 48 km | 31 km | 14 km WSW of La Tirana, Chile |
| before | 4.4 | 124 km | 205 km | 70 km NNE of Calama, Chile |
| before | 5.1 | 124 km | 131 km | 72 km SSW of Colchane, Chile |
| before | 4.5 | 121 km | 242 km | 39 km NE of Calama, Chile |
| before | 4.7 | 122 km | 165 km | 36 km WNW of Ollagüe, Chile |
| before | 4.4 | 119 km | 156 km | 65 km WSW of Ollagüe, Chile |
Frequently asked questions
How is earthquake magnitude measured?
Modern magnitudes are moment magnitudes (Mw), computed from the seismic moment: the area of the fault that slipped, how far it slipped and the rigidity of the rock. Each whole step up the scale is about 32 times more energy, so a magnitude 7 releases roughly a thousand times the energy of a magnitude 5.
What is the difference between magnitude and intensity?
Magnitude is one number for the whole earthquake, describing the energy released at the source. Intensity describes the shaking at a particular place, on the Modified Mercalli scale from I (not felt) to X+ (extreme), and falls off with distance from the epicenter.
What is an aftershock?
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake in the same area after a larger one, as the crust around the ruptured fault adjusts to the new stresses. They are most frequent in the first hours and days and fade over weeks to months, though a large mainshock can produce aftershocks for years.
Why do the magnitude and location change?
The first solution uses the nearest stations only. As recordings arrive from more seismographs around the world, USGS revises the magnitude, depth and epicenter, sometimes several times in the first hours. This page reflects the latest revision.
Where does this earthquake data come from?
From the U.S. Geological Survey’s real-time earthquake feeds, which combine the USGS National Earthquake Information Center with regional seismic networks worldwide. EarthBrowser ingests the feed every minute.