Deep Earthquake Rocks Northern Chile; No Damage Reported
SANTIAGO, Chile (CBS SF ) — The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck in far northern Chile. There were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning.
The USGS says the quake's epicenter was located 35 miles northwest of San Pedro de Atacama and was at a depth of 75 miles. The quake hit at 6:52 a.m. PT Wednesday.
People in Calama, Antofagasta and Iquique reported feeling the quake, according to the USGS.
Deeper quakes are less noticeable while a shallow quake--in the 0 to 40 mile depth range--can feel much stronger than their actual reported magnitude. Quakes just below the earth's surface, in the 0 to 10 miles range, can cause even more damage at lower magnitudes.
Chile is one of the world's most seismic countries and is prone to tsunamis because of the way the Nazca tectonic plate plunges beneath the South American plate, pushing the towering Andes cordillera ever higher.
COMPLETE QUAKE COVERAGE: CBS Earthquake Resource Center
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DID YOU FEEL IT?: USGS Shake Map For Northern California
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BAY AREA FAULTS: Interactive Map Of Local Faults
Strong earthquakes with an epicenter off the coast can trigger tsunamis, depending on the size and type of the fault movement. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tracks earthquake data for the West Coast.
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