A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Salta Province, Argentina, coinciding with the far larger 2010 Chile earthquake but determined to be unrelated.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 6.3
- Date & Time
- February 27, 2010, 12:45:36 local time
- Deaths
- 2
- Epicenter distance from Salta
- ~24 km north of the city
- Relation to Chile earthquake
- Initially suspected aftershock; confirmed unrelated
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake resulted from seismic activity in Salta Province, Argentina. It struck less than 12 hours after the magnitude 8.8 Chile earthquake, leading scientists initially to suspect it was an aftershock of that event, though subsequent analysis disproved this connection.
On February 27, 2010, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Salta Province, Argentina, with its epicenter approximately 24 kilometers north of the city of Salta. The event occurred nearly simultaneously with the catastrophic Chile earthquake, creating confusion about its origin.
The earthquake killed two people and injured dozens. Scientists eventually confirmed the quake was seismically independent from the Chile earthquake occurring the same day, clarifying the understanding of regional seismic activity in South America.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 2 (earthquake)