A brine pool reflects clouds at a lithium mine in the Atacama salt flat, close to San Pedro de Atacama area, Antofagasta region, Chile May 4, 2023. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado
A strong earthquake struck Chile’s important mining region of Antofagasta on Monday afternoon, disrupting operations at some mines but ultimately sparing lives and critical infrastructure, authorities said.
The magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the heart of the world’s biggest copper-producing country, though major miners reported limited damage. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake’s depth at 109 kilometers (68 miles).
