The quake left 8 people dead, 360 injured and 59,913 homeless, concentrating most of those in the provinces of Elqui and Limarí.

[5] According to the 2002 census by the National Statistics Institute, the commune covers an area of 1,339.3 km2 (517 sq mi) with a population of 9,539 inhabitants (4,791 male and 4,748 female).

As a commune, Punitaqui is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Punitaqui is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Miguel Alvarado (PDC) and Mr. Luis Lemus (Ind.)

as part of the 9th electoral district, (together with Combarbalá, Monte Patria, Illapel, Salamanca, Los Vilos, Canela).