A major 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile on Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was located 164 miles (265 kilometers) east of the coastal city of Antofagasta, at a depth of 78.5 miles (126 kilometers).
“So far, there are no reports of injuries or major damage, but teams are gathering information,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric stated on X.
Chile, positioned along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences intense seismic activity, stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude quake triggered a tsunami that devastated villages in the south and center of the country, resulting in about 520 deaths.
Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes mountain range to the east, Chile is among the most seismically active countries globally.
Thursday’s earthquake epicenter was approximately 50 miles from Chile’s border with Argentina and less than 20 miles from its border with Bolivia.
