M6.3 earthquake near La Serena, Coquimbo Region

What happened

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 73 km NE of La Serena, Chile on 18 Jan 1985, 15:00 UTC at a depth of 83 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is La Serena, about 74 km away in Coquimbo Region, Chile.