A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has occurred in the area near mining areas in northern Chile. The epicenter of the earthquake was located near San Pedro de Atacama, which is an important copper and lithium mining area. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 9:50 p.m. local time. The largest copper mine in the world, Escondida Copper Mine, jointly owned by BHP Group and Rio Tinto Group, is located around the epicenter. Meanwhile, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) operates the Salar de Atacama lithium mine south of San Pedro de Atacama. A spokesperson for Rio Tinto Group said that the operation of Escondida Mine has not been affected by the earthquake so far, but they are still conducting safety inspections.