Mexico City, Jan. 19, (dpa/GNA) – A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck Argentina on Monday night near the border with Chile, the US Geological Service (USGS) and Argentinian authorities said.
The USGS and Argentina’s seismological institute Inpres registered the earthquake at 23:46 pm (0246 GMT Tuesday) some 43 kilometres south-west of Argentina’s San Juan and some 250 kilometres north-east of the Chilean capital Santiago.
Inpres reported three aftershocks of magnitudes ranging from 4.1 to 4.9.
Argentinian newspaper Clarin reported that the quake was felt from as far as the capital Buenos Aires, some 1,000 kilometres away from the epicentre.
San Juan Governor Sergio Unac said on Twitter that civil protection, security forces and local authorities were addressing calls reporting damage or need of assistance.
Chile’s coast lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is characterized by a high rate of seismic activity.
GNA