Magnitude-6.3 earthquake strikes northern Chile

In the past seven years, Chile has had three quakes of a magnitude greater than eight

Ships are seen on the street after an earthquake hit areas of central Chile, in Coquimbo city, north of Santiago, Chile, September 17, 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

WASHINGTON DC:
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said.

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The tremor hit 70 kilometers (43 miles) east of the coastal city of Arica, which is near the border with Peru, the US agency said. The quake struck at a depth of 82 kilometers, it added.


Chile is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. In the past seven years it has had three quakes of a magnitude greater than eight. The 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile was the strongest quake ever recorded at 9.5 on the magnitude scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

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Chile lies on what is known as the Ring of Fire - an arc of fault lines that circles the Pacific Basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The north of Chile was struck by an 8.3-magnitude quake, followed by a tsunami in September 2015, killing 15 people.
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