A significant seismic event has occurred in close proximity to a major coastal urban center. Recent accounts indicate that a seismic event measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale impacted Ovalle, Chile, around 11:30am local time, marking the most substantial quake in the area since 2019. Various other cities have reported experiencing tremors.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (SMSC) reported that the earthquake struck at a depth of 45km. As of now, there have been no immediate reports of structural damage or casualties, and no tsunami alerts have been issued following the morning’s quake.
Initial assessments reveal that the earthquake, with a depth of 24 kilometers, caused tremors in several cities in the central-northern part of Chile, spanning from Atacama to Maule. Affected areas include Coquimbo, La Serena, Ovalle, Santiago, Valparaíso, and Viña del Mar, as reported by the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response.
This seismic occurrence is regarded as the most significant in the region in the last seven years. Comparatively, the 2019 Coquimbo earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.7, struck southwest of Coquimbo in the evening of January 19, with its epicenter located off the coast of the Coquimbo Region at a depth of 63.0 km.
According to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS), around 1,000 individuals experienced intense shaking, while 132,000 felt moderate shaking, 692,000 experienced light tremors, and 113,000 reported weak tremors. The earthquake is estimated to have occurred shortly after 11:30am local time.
The earthquake’s epicenter is in close proximity to Argentina, a country previously identified as one of the impacted nations. Presently, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has designated Chile and Bolivia as the affected countries.
Footage capturing the moment of the earthquake has surfaced, showing a resident in Coquimbo filming as the tremor caused overhead power lines to sway on a serene street. The EMSC recorded the quake at a depth of 45 kilometers at 13:34 UTC, approximately 96 kilometers south-southeast of Coquimbo and 25 kilometers south of Ovalle.
Reports confirm the occurrence of a significant 6.2 magnitude earthquake near Ovalle, Chile, shortly after 1:30pm, marking the most substantial seismic activity in the region since 2019.
