South Africa’s Chile was shaken by the earthquake. The U.S. Geological Survey reported Thursday that tremors were felt across Chile, including the coastal city of Antofagasta. The quake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. According to initial reports, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 265 km east of Antofagasta, at a depth of at least 126 km. No tsunami warning has been issued due to the earthquake. No damage or loss of life was reported.
Incidentally, Chile belongs to the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’. As a result, the country is already prone to earthquakes in terms of its geological structure. The South American country also has several active volcanoes. Last January, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Tarapaca area in northern Chile. In 2010, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake killed 526 people in Chile. Some geologists believe that the source of Thursday’s earthquake was much deeper in the ground, so a major disaster was avoided.