ARGENTINA has been rocked by a major 6.4 magnitude earthquake this morning, striking off the coast of the resort town Ushuaia.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has detected a huge 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocking the coastal region of Argentina's Ushuaia resort this morning.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which hit 200 miles south of the tourist resort.
The earthquake is known as 'shallow' which means it took place on the surface, where damage can be strongest.
Touching down on Drake Passage, the earthquake was shallow, meaning the full effects would brace the surface.
The USGS has so far said buildings in the region are built to survive earthquake impacts, but some are still prone to damage.
A spokesman for USGS said: "Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
"The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and rubble/field stone masonry construction."
No casualty figures have so far been revealed but according to USGS statistics the severity and the location of the quake provided a 65 percent possibility of fatalities.
Ushuaia is located at the southernmost tip of Argentina on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.
This region has been dubbed the 'end of the world' and is a common departure point for trips to the Antarctic.
As such, the town is highly popular with tourists, and has an estimated population of 60,000.
The USGS has estimated at least 62,000 people in the region had felt the shakes as a result of the ensuing earthquake.
Argentina wasn't the only place to suffer tremors today - El Salvador, in Central America, was also hit by a magnitude 6.1 quake.
According to the USGS, up to 613,000 people felt the tremors as they struck near the city of Acajutla.
USGS experts feared the death toll in El Salvador could be even higher.
El Salvador's structures are a mix of earthquake resistant and earthquake vulnerable properties.
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