Chile has been struck by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in the Bio-Bio region, home to some of the country’s leading pulp and paper producers.
As of 10:00 UTC on 14 July there had been no reports of significant damage, according to modelling agency Risk Management Solutions (RMS). However the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake could cause moderate-to-heavy damage to vulnerable structures.
The quake occurred at 4:32 a.m. and its epicenter was located on land about 55 kilometers (some 34 miles) from the town of Lebu and some 560 kilometers (about 348 miles) from Santiago, at a depth of 28.4 kilometers (17 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, said.
The powerful temblor was preceded by a magnitude-5.3 earthquake that hit at 4:21 a.m. and had its epicenter in the same area at a depth of 29.1 kilometers (18 miles), the USGS said.
