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6.7 Earthquake Strikes Off Chile’s Pacific Coast

Posted at 8:42 PM, Mar 16, 2014
and last updated 2014-03-16 20:42:23-04
800px-Flag_of_Chile.svg

Chile’s flag (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

(CNN) — A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Chile’s Pacific coast Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake’s epicenter was 60 kilometers (37 miles) west-northwest of Iquique, Chile, and its depth was 20 kilometers (12.4 miles), the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries, but local emergency officials activated a precautionary tsunami warning along the coast and urged residents to move to higher ground, regional emergency official Juan Basaez told CNN Chile.

Sea level readings in the area indicate a tsunami was generated,the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, but there is no widespread destructive tsunami threat.

The center warned of possible destruction on the coast within 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the quake’s epicenter.