The center's Twitter account revealed that the earthquake struck some 129 kilometers southwest of the Chilean city of Copiapó. Initial seismograph readings were revised from magnitude 6.3 to magnitude 6.5 within the first hour after the event.
The possibility of the event triggering a tsunami has been ruled out by the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy.
Eyewitness footage, like that of Twitter user Sebastian Antonio Tirado Rufatt, has provided netizens with a glimpse of the quake
Spanish-language testimonials spanning more than 600 kilometers from the quake's epicenter have claimed the quake was noticeable and on the stronger side.
Hours prior, Chile's northern coast was assaulted by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, the EMSC reported. The event was followed by several aftershocks, one of which reached magnitude 6.3.