Strong 6.2-Magnitude Quake Strikes Chile, No Injuries Reported

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale shook northeastern Chile in the region of Antofagasta, west of Paraguay border and south of Bolivia, said U.S. seismologists, but Chilean officials said there was no report of eitherr damage or casualties. No tsunami warning was issued either.

The quake struck at 8:11 p.m. Sunday (0011 GMT Monday), at a depth of 56.7 miles (91.3 km) and with its epicenter located in the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andrean Fauna, 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Calama in the Atacama desert, the USGS said, RTTNews reports.

"I was walking and noticed how the ground shook, but there was no alarm or panic, everything normal," said tour guide Patricio Silva, who lives in San Pedro de Atacama.

Chile 's National Emergency Office said phone lines were saturated after the quake, which was considered of "medium strength." It said the situation has "normalized.", AFP informs.