Magnitude 7.2 quake hits central Chile
Updated: 2012-03-26 07:03
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
SANTIAGO - A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit central Chile on Sunday, shaking buildings in the capital of Santiago, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries.
The government emergency agency, ONEMI, said it was preventively evacuating some areas of the coast, but quickly revoked that decision.
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 64 miles (103 km) west north west of the town of Talca at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km).
Magnitude 7.0 earthquakes or greater are capable of causing widespread, heavy damage and causing tsunamis at sea, but ONEMI said this quake was not expected to generate a tsunami off the coast.
The quake struck near the same central region that was hit by a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in 2010 and ensued tsunamis in 2010 that killed about 500 people.
The central area is home to some important copper mines, but the bulk of output in the world's top copper exporting nation is concentrated in the far northern region.
Chilean state copper giant Codelco said operations were normal at its Andina and El Teniente copper mines after the quake. Codelco spokesman Pablo Orozco told Reuters there had been no energy blackouts at the key mines.
Today's Top News
President Xi confident in recovery from quake
H7N9 update: 104 cases, 21 deaths
Telecom workers restore links
Coal mine blast kills 18 in Jilin
Intl scholarship puts China on the map
More bird flu patients discharged
Gold loses sheen, but still a safe bet
US 'turns blind eye to human rights'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
All-out efforts to save lives |
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Poultry industry under pressure |
'Spring' in the air for NGOs? |
Boy set to drive Chinese golf |
Latest technology gets people talking |