Central Chile experienced magnitude 5.0 tremors Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and Reuters. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were no reports of any damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the tremors struck at 11:35 a.m. local time. The shakes were centered 76 miles northwest of Santiago and had a depth of 53 miles. There were earlier reports of magnitude 5.9 medium-intensity tremors, according to Chile's emergency service Onemi.

"There are no preliminary reports of damage to people or effects on services or to infrastructure from this tremor," said Onemi.

The Chilean navy also ruled out any possibilities of a tsunami along the coast.

Only a few days ago on Feb. 11, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northeastern Chile. The quake was felt in close proximity to the Argentina border. The quake was originally reported as a 7.0. It was at a depth of 157 miles below the earth, lessening its impact. The epicenter was located 111 miles northwest of Jujuy, Argentina.

The prevalence of earthquakes to South American citizens is nothing new. Chile especially is one of the world's most seismic areas. The infrastructure of the country is designed to withstand the regular tremors Chileans experience.

The seismic activity is due to the Nazca tectonic plate. The plate is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean basin off the west coast of South America. In addition to the frequent earthquakes hitting Chile, the Nazca Plate is also responsible for the continued growth of the Andes Mountains and the active volcanic chain in the area.

Several notable earthquakes with magnitudes of 8 or larger have hit the Chilean region since 1900, often followed by devastating tsunamis. In 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile. In 1960, the largest ever magnitude 9.5 earthquake occurred in the southern region of the country. The affects of the tsunami resulting from the earthquake reached Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.

Related