Magnitude 6.4 quake rattles S. Peru, N. Chile

 A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rattled southern Peru and northern Chile on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The epicenter of the quake was 16 miles (26 km) west of Tacna in Peru at a depth of 6.8 miles (11 km), and 35 miles (55 km) northwest of the northern Chilean city of Arica, it said.

Residents in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa ran from their homes, a witness said.

Southern Copper , a large company that has two mines and a smelter close to the epicenter, did not suffer any damage and none of its employees was injured, said Fernando Mejia, the miner's head of operations.

Chile's state national emergency office, Onemi, said there were no reports of damage or injuries in Chilean territory, and no tsunami alert.

Chile has been rattled by a series of large quakes since a powerful 8.8-magnitude quake on Feb. 27 that killed hundreds of people, ravaged towns and hit the forestry and steel industries in south-central Chile.