4.8 earthquake strikes northwest Argentina

BUENOS AIRES:

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit San Juan province, northwest Argentina, on Friday, according to authorities of the South American country.

There have been no reports of casualties or damage so far.

The National Institute for Seismic Prevention said the earthquake occurred at 3:53 p.m. local time (18:53 GMT), at a depth of 125 kilometers. The area where the earthquake occurred is a sparsely populated region of Argentina.

Previously, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru.

The USGS raised an earlier magnitude rating soon after the tremor struck 8.8 kilometers (5.5 miles) from Atiquipa district. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, which initially said there was no threat, later warned that waves of up to three metres were "possible along some coasts".