Greetings! Please Share & Subcribe.
A strong earthquake which struck off the coast of Chile has caused terror for many who survived a devastating quake there last year.
There were no immediate reports of significant damage after the quake hit the Araucania region, 370 miles southwest of the Chilean capital, Santiago.
The epicentre was 43 miles northwest of Temuco at a depth of 10.5 miles, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
According to the USGS, the earthquake was 7.1 in magnitude, while the University of Chile recorded only 6.5.
Chilean navy officials said there was no threat of a tsunami, but thousands of residents in low-lying areas fled to higher ground, fearing the worst.
An estimated 50,000 people left the communities La Araucania, Puerto Saavedra, Tolten and Teodoro Smith, officials said.
"Up until now we don't have any information of deaths or major damage. A tsunami alert is ruled out," said Felipe Plaza, duty officer at Chile's national emergency office.
Another emergency official in Araucania said some mobile phone communications had been disrupted but that all other public services were working as usual.
In the minutes after the quake hit, Chileans used Twitter to share their experience.
"Lots of people outside the shopping mall. Everyone worried," wrote Alma Canales, a journalist in Temuco.
Rene Saffirio, a local politician reported a "big fright in Temuco".
"Immediately those memories surfaced that we want to forget," he later added, seemingly referring back to the earthquake that hit Chile last February.
SKYNEWS
0 Comments