According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck northern Chile near the Argentina border late Thursday. The quake caused shaking and power outages, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
The epicenter was located 45 kilometers (28 miles) southeast of San Pedro de Atacama, a tourist destination on the edge of the northern desert. The quake had a depth of 117 kilometers (72 miles), which likely mitigated the shaking intensity. Deeper earthquakes tend to cause less surface damage.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric stated that the government is closely monitoring the area, but “so far, there are no reports of injuries or major damage.” The quake did not trigger a tsunami alert.
Footage circulating online showed rocks falling onto a highway connecting Calama to Tocopilla, east of the epicenter. Local authorities reported road blockages in the area.
Experts note that deeper earthquakes are felt over a wider area. According to Chile’s emergency service, Thursday’s quake was felt across six provinces: Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo, Arica, and Parinacota. At least a dozen aftershocks have been recorded since the initial quake.
The Chilean Geoscience Network reported that despite the earthquake’s size and the number of fallen objects, it is not considered a major-intensity event. There were “some minor shocks to infrastructure,” but no collapsed buildings, and “it was not difficult for residents to stand up.”
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Chile, part of the seismically active “Ring of Fire,” has a history of significant earthquakes. In 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake caused a tsunami and resulted in 526 deaths. The Geoscience Network noted that Thursday’s quake was the most intense in Chile since a 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the south in 2016.
