MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mild quake rocks northwest Argentina and Chile

A mid scale earthquake rocked Sunday northwestern Argentina and upper central Chile. In Argentina according to the Inpress seismology Institute it reached a 5.8 magnitude but no injuries or damages were reported.

On the Chilean side, the seism recorded 2/3 grades in the Mercalli scale and extended from Metropolitan Santiago northwards to Region IV.

The quake which occurred at 6:34 a.m. (0934 GMT) had its epicentre in the Pampa de las Salinas area of La Rioja province. Tremors were also felt the neighbouring provinces of San Juan and San Luis provinces, as well as in northern Cordoba province.

"This was a pretty significant and long movement, but luckily it only gave us a scare. No damage or victims have been reported so far" an Inpres spokesman said.

In Chile the seism was perceived at 09:37 GMT according to the Regional Civil Protection and Emergency Offices and similarly to Argentina no injuries or damages were reported.

Areas under impact include: Ovalle, Combarbalá, Petorca e Illapel, 3 grades; La Serena, Coquimbo, La Ligua, San Felipe, Los Andes, Valparaíso y Viña del Mar, 2 grades.