Earthquake of magnitude 5 shakes southern Magallanes region in Chile

An earthquake of magnitude 5 on the Richter scale rocked on Tuesday the southern region of Magallanes, in the extreme south of Chile, without that until the authorities reported victims or counter-damages. The earthquake occurred at 10:17 am local time and its epicenter was located 60 kilometers northeast of Puerto Natales, more than 2500 km from Santiago, reported the seismological center of the University of Chile.

The hypocenter had a depth of 2.9 km, the agency said. The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy badured that the characteristics of the earthquake they do not fulfill the conditions necessary to generate a tsunami on the coasts of Chile. According to the National Emergency Office (Onemi), the earthquake was perceived with an intensity of IV on the international scale of Mercalli, ranging from one to twelve, in Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, in the region of Magallanes.

Chile, based on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is considered one of the most seismic countries on the planet after Japan, and the fourth most exposed to major damage due to natural disasters.

In the last 24 hours they registered in Chile 34 tremors less than 5 on the Richter Scale, barely perceptible and no casualties, no material damage, or the characteristics of a tsunami. Most of these less intense telluric movements took place in the northern part of the southern country.

Since the time of the colony, the country, from 18 million inhabitants, has had at least 80 earthquakes alone, in the last 60 years, have killed 40,735 people, including the two killed in the January earthquake in Coquimbo.