Something Hidden Deep Underground Supercharged This Chile Earthquake
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Chile on Monday, the US Geological Survey reported, hitting the Atacama desert approximately 31 kilometres from Calama at a depth of about 100 kilometres with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
- Chile sits at the convergence of three tectonic plates—the Nazca, South American, and Antarctic—making it exceptionally earthquake-prone, and the quake struck the heart of the world's largest copper-producing country where substantial output originates in the Antofagasta region.
- Regional director Ricardo Munizaga of Chile's disaster agency SENAPRED reported landslides in some production areas but no injuries or major emergencies; residents in Calama experienced power outages and water supply disruptions, though key infrastructure remained unaffected.
- Major miners Miners BHP and Antofagasta reported unaffected operations, while Chilean state copper miner Codelco halted some activities due to visibility and electricity supply concerns; mining companies activated emergency protocols and authorities ruled out tsunami risk.
- Chileans typically view earthquakes below 7.0 magnitude with minimal concern, a threshold this 6.9-magnitude event approached; the 1960 Valdivia earthquake measured 9.5 and killed 9,500 people, while the 2010 central Chilean quake reached 8.8 magnitude and left more than 520 dead.
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Strong Chile Earthquake Shakes Mining Hub, but Damage Is Minimal
A strong earthquake struck Chile’s important mining region of Antofagasta on Monday afternoon, disrupting operations at some mines but ultimately sparing lives and critical infrastructure, authorities said. The magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the heart of the world’s biggest copper-producing country, though major miners reported limited damage. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake’s depth at 109 kilometers (68 miles). Chilean state c…
Local media reported power outages in the affected area and preventive evacuation orders at the Chuquicamata underground mine.
According to the USP Seismology Center, earthquakes like this often occur in the Andes and, depending on the magnitude and depth, can be felt in São Paulo.
Chile, where three tectonic plates converge, is one of the countries with the highest seismic activity in the world. On Monday, the tremor occurred 101 kilometres deep in the Atacama Desert.
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