6.2 magnitude earthquake hits northern Chile

6.2 magnitude earthquake hits northern Chile

The quake happened 67 km southeast of the San Pedro de Atacama tourist zone
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6.2 magnitude earthquake hits northern Chile

Image: Google Maps

An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit northern Chile on Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

There was no tsunami alert and no immediate report of any damages or injuries.

The powerful quake, at a depth of 135 kilometers, hit at approximately 5:19 am local time with an epicenter of about 67 km southeast of the San Pedro de Atacama tourist zone, according to US seismologists.

Chile's National Office of Emergency said the "medium-intensity" quake was felt in the northern regions of Tarapaca, Antofagasta and Atacama.

Chile lies on the "Ring of Fire" which is an arc of fault lines that circles the Pacific Basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The north of the country was struck by an 8.3 tremor followed by a tsunami in September 2015, killing 15 people.

An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale also hit north eastern Chile earlier in the day, according to the USGS.