7.3 magnitude earthquake in northern Chile – No casualties or serious damage reported 2024-07-21 18:48:34

The quake’s epicenter was located 265 kilometers east of the Pacific port city of Antofagasta and regarding 20 kilometers from the tourist town of San Pedro de Atacama; the focal depth was 126 kilometers, according to initial USGS data.

Chile’s national seismological center reported that the earthquake occurred yesterday at 21:50 (local time; 04:50 Greek time).

President Gabriel Boric assured via X that “so far, no injuries or serious damage have been reported to me, but teams on the ground are still gathering information.”

He clarified that due to the earthquake landslides occurred which caused damage to a road.

Local officials also said they had no information on casualties or serious damage.

“Despite the magnitude (of the earthquake), there is no major damage. We have no information regarding the collapse of houses,” the mayor of San Pedro de Atacama, Justo Souleta, told AFP.

He said power was cut when the earthquake hit, but was restored a few minutes later.

Chile is located on the so-called ring of fire of the Pacific Ocean, an area in the subsurface of which tectonic plates intersect and exhibits intense seismic and volcanic activity.

In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck central and southern Chile, killing 525 people, 100 of whom were killed by the resulting tsunami.

The epicenter of the new earthquake is located a short distance from the borders with Argentina (regarding 80 km) and with Bolivia (less than 30 km).

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