Shallow M6.3 earthquake hits off the coast of Coquimbo, Chile
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the GUC as M6.3 hit off the coast of Coquimbo, Chile at 00:19 UTC (20:19 LT, June 13) on June 14, 2019. The agency is reporting a depth of 36.4 km (22.6 miles). USGS is reporting M6.4 at a depth of 10.1 km (6.3 miles), EMSC M6.4 at a depth of 2 km (1.2 miles).
The epicenter was located 72.8 km (45.2 miles) W of Coquimbo (population 161 317), 82.4 km (51.2 miles) WSW of La Serena (population 154 521) and 104.6 km (65 miles) NW of Ovalle (population 77 138), Chile.
There are 440 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).
535 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking.
GUC registered 11 aftershocks over the next 4 hours with magnitudes ranging from 3.1 to 4.6.
The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and unreinforced brick with concrete floor construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
Featured image credit: Google, TW/SAM
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