The 16 September 2015 magnitude 8.3 earthquake that occurred at 2255 UTC 48 km W of Illapel, Chile, generated a tsunami that was observed all over the Pacific region and caused damage locally. More than one million people were evacuated from coastal regions of Chile to escape the tsunami. The tsunami waves flooded and caused damage in areas of Coquimbo, La Serena, Tongoy, Concón, and Illapel, but no deaths were reported from the tsunami. Previously, in February 2010, a magnitude 8.8 Mw located near the central coast of Chile generated a tsunami that caused 156 fatalities.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued its 1st advisory information at 2300 UTC, and continued issuing threat information messages for the next 24 hours with the final message issued at 2305 UTC on September 17. A 4.75 m high tsunami wave was measured on the Coquimbo, Chile sea level gauge, and 1-2 m high waves were measured elsewhere in Chile.

According to the USGS, the 16 September 2015 earthquake occurred as a result of thrust faulting on the interface between the Nazca and South America plates in Central Chile. In the region of the earthquake, the Nazca plate subducts eastward beneath the South American plate at a rate of 65 mm/yr. At least 15 people were reported killed and 34 injured from the earthquake.

Top: Regional tectonics and seismicity M7 or greater by depth. Epicenter of the 16 September Mw 8.3 earthquake is shown by the yellow star. Bottom: Geographic setting.