Chile: Magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurs near Concepcion in the Bio-Bio Region at around 09:51 April 3

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred in the Bio-Bio region of central Chile at around 09:51 April 3. The epicenter was about 20 km (13 miles) southeast of the city of Concepcion. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 36 km (22 miles), and strong shaking was likely felt throughout the Bio-Bio, Nuble, and Araucania, regions; light shaking was likely felt on the Maule and Rios regions of Chile, as well as areas in western Argentina. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. 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.