The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile on Thursday. The epicentre was 164 miles east of the coastal city of Antofagasta, at a depth of 78.5 miles. Authorities did not immediately issue a tsunami warning following the quake.
Chile’s geographic location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” subjects it to frequent seismic activity. This arc of heightened seismic activity extends from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The country has experienced significant seismic events in the past, including the 2010 disaster, where an 8.8-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused widespread destruction and resulted in approximately 520 fatalities.
Positioned between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains, Chile is one of the most earthquake-prone nations globally. Thursday’s quake occurred close to the borders with Argentina and Bolivia, about 50 miles from Argentina and less than 20 miles from Bolivia.
