M4.8 earthquake near Vallenar, Atacama

What happened

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck 61 km SE of Vallenar, Chile on 7 Dec 2018, 09:44 UTC at a depth of 93 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Light. Widely felt nearby; objects may shake or fall. Significant damage is unusual. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Vallenar, about 62 km away in Atacama, Chile.