A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the central coastal area of Chile today Sunday, some 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Temuco, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury.
The quake, which stuck around 5:20 p.m. (3:20 p.m. ET), was felt as far away as Santiago, roughly 595 km (370 miles) north of where the USGS said the quake occurred. The earthquake was some 17 km (10.5 miles) deep, the USGS said.
Loreto Henriquez, manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Temuco, said she felt the quake for about a minute, describing it as loud and strong. She said people ran out into the streets, but did not report any major damage.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no widespread tsunami threat exists. It did not rule out the possibility of local tsunamis close to the quake’s epicenter and said that authorities in the region should be prepared.
In February, an 8.8-magnitude quake hit Chile near the nation’s second largest city, Concepcion, killing hundreds. (CNN)
