4.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Chile

An earthquake measuring 4.6 magnitude on the Richter scale struck on Monday the Tarapaca region in northern Chile, hours after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck southeast of Easter Island, western Chile. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said in a statement that the epicenter of the earthquake was 37 km from the town of La Tirana in the region and at a depth of 101.1 km. There have been no reports of material damage or human losses due to the earthquake. In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami struck central and southern Chile, killing 500 people. Chile lies on an area called the "Ring of Fire," an arc of fault lines that surround the Pacific Ocean basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Source: Qatar News Agency