Chile: Magnitude-5.8 offshore earthquake occurs near Atacama Region Sept. 1

Event

A magnitude-5.8 offshore earthquake occurred near the coasts of Atacama region at around 14:35 Sept. 1. The epicenter was about 95 km (59 miles) west-southwest of Copiapo. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 17 km (10.5 miles) and light to moderate shaking was probably felt throughout northern Chile and northwestern Argentina. Authorities say there is no tsunami warning.

There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in mountainous areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.