MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Amercia: Breaking News

Geological fault in Santiago

A geological fault in the pre-cordillera area and extending close to Santiago de Chile was recently discovered by Chilean seismologists. The "San Ramón" fault believes seismologist Edgar Kausel, could produce tremors and seism of medium intensity with considerable impact in the Santiago outskirts area since many dwellings are made of adobe. "Although Chile has a long tradition regarding seismic regulation, earthquakes are not predictable, and with each phenomenon you learn a little bit more", said Mr. Kausel. However Mr. Kausel pointed out differences between the seismic activity in Chile and California. In Chile the Nazca and South America the tectonic plates move one under the other, while in the San Andreas Fault the two plates move parallel and collide. "The Nazca plate moves in from the Pacific under the continent at a rate of ten centimetres per year and is the cause of earthquakes and mountains in Chile", indicated Mr. Kausel. The Chilean scientist also denied any connection between El Niño, volcanoes and earth quakes. "Earthquakes and volcanoes are natural phenomena with the same origin, plate movements. And El Niño has no influence or connection at all with earthquakes", stressed Mr. Kausel.

Hilton beef quotas

Uruguay is requesting an increase in its special beef cuts quota to the European Union, similarly to the extension recently granted to Argentina. Officials from the Uruguayan Meat Institute, INAC, said that Uruguay currently has a special Hilton beef cuts quota of 6,300 tons, which it would like increased to at least 10,000 tons. Argentina that originally had 18,000 tons of the so called Hilton beef cuts has seen the volume increased to 28,000 tons. The EU justified the greater volume because of the "very special economic and social circumstances the country is undergoing" and the fact that an outbreak of foot and mouth in Argentina impeded the country from exporting during eleven months. For several years Uruguay has been requesting the EU for a Hilton quota increase, or at least the possibility to complete unused quotas of other suppliers. In related news Chile and Iran officially announced that they had