M4.6 Earthquake Strikes Deep Under Bolivia

Uyuni, Bolivia — A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck beneath southwestern Bolivia on Saturday at 11:52 AM Central Time, centered about 55 miles south-southwest of Uyuni at a depth of roughly 117 miles.

What happened: The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake occurred deep within the subducting Nazca Plate beneath the Andes. Bolivia's Altiplano region sits above one of the world's great subduction zones, and deep quakes like this are a regular — if usually unfelt — occurrence.

Impacts: At 117 miles deep, the shaking at the surface would have been muted even directly above the epicenter. The USGS has no felt reports on file for this event, and no damage would be expected from a quake of this size at this depth.

What to do:

- No protective action is needed for this event.

- As always in earthquake country, keep heavy items off high shelves and know to drop, cover, and hold on if the ground moves.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 17, 2026.