Magnitude 5.0 quake strikes northern Chile

A mild 5.0 earthquake has struck Chile’s north-eastern region, but there are no reports of injuries or damage.

The US Geological Survey said the quake’s epicentre was 29 kilometres north-north-east of Putre, Chile and struck yesterday at 2:58 P.M. Local time (00:28 IST). The quake was not felt in the capital of Santiago. The Chilean Onemi Emergency Office said no injuries or damage were reported.

Putre, the capital of the Arica-Paranicota region, is located at an altitude of 11,500 feet near the edge of the Lauca National Park.

Chile is one of the most highly seismic countries in the world. A massive 8.8-magnitude quake in 2010, one of the strongest ever recorded, killed 551 people and destroyed more than 200,000 homes.

–PTI