5.6 Magnitude Quake Hits N. Chile, No Damage Seen

WASHINGTON, June 26 (Reuters) - A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile on Saturday near Arica, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no reports of any damage.

The quake was centered 79 miles (127 km) east southeast of Arica at a depth of 50 miles (80 km). The region is north of Chile's major copper mining facilities.

"It was a quake of medium intensity. It has not caused any damage according to reports so far," Johaziel Jamett, head of the early warning center at Chile's state emergency office Onemi, told Reuters.

Earthquakes are common in Chile. A massive 8.8-magnitude quake struck south-central Chile on Feb. 27, killing at least 500 people and hammering the forestry, fruit, wine and fishing industries, though the mainstay mining sector was barely affected.