MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Strong earthquake shakes Peru-Chile border

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit northern Chile on Monday,

A strong earthquake, centered in the Andes mountains, struck Chile Monday afternoon near its borders with Peru and Bolivia.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported it was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Iquique. According to the government's Emergency Bureau, preliminary reports revealed there were some minor landslides but no injury or damage. According to local news reports, there was a brief interruption in telephone service and traffic lights. The Peruvian Geophysical Institute (IGP) reported the quake happened at 12:01 pm in the Tacna province, some 1,300 kilometers (807 miles) south of Lima. It was also reported the epicenter was 40 kilometers (24 miles) underground and approximately 253 kilometers (157 miles) south of the province of Tacna. According to Peru's Civil Defense, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. There are landslides on some roads in the Iquique area, but no reports of injuries, reported Chile's Cooperativa Radio network. Reuters quoted Carmen Fernandez, director of Chile's National Emergency Office, as saying, "There are no reports of damage, nor of people injured by it, however will we continue to monitor the situation, town by town."