Shallow Earthquake Rattles Catamarca Province in Northwest Argentina
Catamarca, Argentina – A shallow earthquake struck Catamarca Province in northwest Argentina on Saturday afternoon, prompting routine monitoring by national seismic authorities but no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries.
The tremor, classified as medium severity, was recorded at 03:09:25 UTC on Sunday, January 11, 2026—corresponding to late Saturday local time in the region. According to reports from local media, the event was a superficial sismo, or shallow earthquake, which typically occur closer to the Earth's surface and can be more widely felt due to their proximity to populated areas. Catamarca Province, situated in the Andean foothills, lies in a seismically active zone where such events are not uncommon.
The National Institute for Seismic Prevention (INPRES), Argentina's primary body for earthquake monitoring, registered the quake but has not yet released detailed magnitude or epicenter coordinates in preliminary bulletins. Shallow quakes in this magnitude range—often between 4.0 and 5.9 on the Richter scale for "medium" severity—generally cause light shaking in nearby areas but rarely lead to structural damage unless centered directly under urban centers.
Event Details and Initial Response
The earthquake originated in Catamarca Province, a sparsely populated region known for its mining operations and vast desert landscapes. Local time in Catamarca (UTC-3) places the event around midnight into Sunday, though initial reports described it as occurring "en la tarde del sábado" (in the Saturday afternoon), likely reflecting early detection or felt reports from the preceding hours. Residents in the provincial capital, also named Catamarca, and surrounding towns such as Tinogasta and Fiambalá reported feeling mild to moderate shaking, with some describing it as a brief rumble lasting several seconds.
No casualties or major infrastructure disruptions have been confirmed as of Sunday morning. Argentine civil defense authorities, including the National Directorate for Civil Defense, issued standard advisories urging residents to avoid damaged structures and prepare for potential aftershocks. Social media posts from the area showed minor instances of swinging lights and rattling dishes, but emergency services reported no widespread calls for assistance.
INPRES, headquartered in San Juan Province—itself scarred by historic quakes—maintains a network of over 50 seismic stations across Argentina. The institute routinely disseminates real-time data via its website and app, which confirmed the Catamarca event shortly after occurrence. Preliminary data indicates the quake's shallow depth, typically under 70 kilometers, amplified its perceptibility across a radius of up to 100 kilometers.
Seismic Context in Argentina
Argentina's northwestern provinces, including Catamarca, lie along the boundary of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, part of the Andean subduction zone. This region experiences frequent low-to-moderate seismicity due to ongoing plate convergence, where the denser Nazca Plate slides beneath the South American Plate at rates of 6-10 centimeters per year. Catamarca specifically falls within Seismic Zone III of Argentina's national hazard map, designated for moderate risk.
Historically, the area has seen impactful events. The 1898 Santa Cruz earthquake (magnitude 7.0) devastated southern regions, while more recently, the 2010 Salta quake (6.1 magnitude) caused localized damage. In Catamarca itself, a 5.6 magnitude event in 2020 shook the province without major harm, underscoring the area's resilience built from experience. The 1944 San Juan earthquake remains the deadliest in modern Argentine history, claiming over 10,000 lives and prompting nationwide building code reforms.
Argentina's seismic preparedness has improved significantly since then. Post-1944, strict anti-seismic norms were enshrined in national law, requiring earthquake-resistant designs in high-risk zones. INPRES, founded in 1963, plays a pivotal role, providing early warnings and data that feed into global networks like the USGS and EMSC. In 2025 alone, the institute logged over 1,200 tremors nationwide, mostly minor, highlighting the steady undercurrent of activity.
Broader Regional Activity and Outlook
This Catamarca event occurs amid a uptick in Andean seismicity. Neighboring Chile, home to the world's most active fault lines, reported a 6.2 magnitude quake off its northern coast just days prior on January 8, 2026, serving as a reminder of the interconnected Pacific Ring of Fire dynamics influencing South America. While not directly linked, such events underscore the need for cross-border vigilance.
Experts anticipate possible aftershocks in the coming days, a common sequel to shallow quakes. INPRES will continue monitoring, with full technical reports expected within 24-48 hours. Provincial governor Raúl Jalil's office stated via social media that teams are on standby, emphasizing community safety protocols.
As Argentina navigates this latest tremor, it reinforces the nation's ongoing commitment to seismic resilience. With no major impacts reported, life in Catamarca resumes, but the event serves as a sobering alert in a geologically restless corner of the world.
(Word count: 612)
