Chile hit by 7.4 magnitude earthquake near copper, lithium mines

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck Chile, 45 km outside San Pedro de Atacama in the country’s northern copper and lithium mining region.

The quake hit at 9:50 p.m. local time, according to the United States Geological Survey, at a depth of 117.4 km. Deeper earthquakes tend to be less damaging than shallower ones, but they can be widely felt.