It had a moment magnitude of 7.1 and its epicenter was located 23 km (14 mi) northeast of the city of Constitución, in the Maule Region, Chile.

The earthquake occurred as the result of shallow thrust faulting on or near the subduction interface between the Nazca and South American plates.

In Talca, the capital of the region, the earthquake caused damage to several schools, resulting in classes being temporarily suspended.

[6] Moderate damage was reported in the cities of Chillán, Concepción and Rancagua, where six homes were destroyed, two in O'Higgins, four in Ñuble and one in Lota.

[7] In the cities of Valparaíso, Santiago, Temuco and Puerto Montt and smaller towns, the earthquake only caused only minor damage, however, the ceiling of a cinema collapsed and debris fell from the Votive Temple of Maipú.