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Chile suffers 6.5 magnitude aftershock rattling Santiago buildings

Tuesday, September 22nd 2015 - 06:56 UTC
Full article 8 comments
The U.S. Geological Survey said the latest tremor had a magnitude of 6.5, with an epicenter 46 kilometers west of Illapel, close to that of last week's quake. The U.S. Geological Survey said the latest tremor had a magnitude of 6.5, with an epicenter 46 kilometers west of Illapel, close to that of last week's quake.
Last week's powerful tremor left more than 9,000 people homeless, officials said dramatically increasing previous estimates. Last week's powerful tremor left more than 9,000 people homeless, officials said dramatically increasing previous estimates.
The offshore earthquake was the sixth strongest in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the most powerful anywhere in the world this year The offshore earthquake was the sixth strongest in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the most powerful anywhere in the world this year

A fresh 6.5 magnitude aftershock struck central Chile on Monday, rattling buildings in Chile's capital city Santiago, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. An 8.3 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami hit Chile's port city of Coquimbo last Wednesday, killing 13 people.

 Since then, a series of aftershocks has unnerved Chileans. The U.S. Geological Survey said the latest tremor had a magnitude of 6.5, with an epicenter 46 kilometers west of Illapel, close to that of last week's quake.

The Onemi emergency service said Monday's tremor had not generated conditions necessary to create a tsunami and that there were no initial reports of damage or injuries.

Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world and strict building rules limit damage caused by quakes. There was no immediate news of any effect on copper mining, a key component of Chile's economy.

Last week's powerful tremor left more than 9,000 people homeless, officials said dramatically increasing previous estimates.

The death toll from the 8.3 magnitude quake that struck on September 16 remained at 13, with four still missing, said Deputy Interior Minister Mahmud Aleuy.

The number of people left homeless however jumped drastically from 3,500, as officials scour remote towns in the Coquimbo region, more than 260 kilometers north of Santiago, where the quake epicenter was located.

“We hope that by Friday we will have surveyed all of the people who were affected,” Aleuy said.

The offshore earthquake was the sixth strongest in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the most powerful anywhere in the world this year, officials say.

Emergency personnel backed by soldiers were still busy cleaning up the coastal city of Coquimbo, which was a jumble of fishing boats, destroyed homes, vendors' stands and vehicles washed up by the tsunami waves that followed the quake.

Categories: Environment, Chile.

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  • Chicureo

    We had six quakes yesterday ranging up to 6.6 and starting early this morning, eight ranging up to 6.1 today. Almost all occurring about 300 km north of Santiago. Although we're accustomed to seismic activity, this is unusual for us.

    Sep 22nd, 2015 - 12:40 pm 0
  • jakesnake

    @Chicureo Yes, family down there was bascially saying “yeah still constant tremors...” I get the feeling everybody is ready for it to end. Hang in there man. Hopefully it will subside soon.

    Sep 22nd, 2015 - 03:40 pm 0
  • Condorito

    We are really feeling it up here in La Región de Coquimbo. The damage along the seafront here in La Serena was mostly superficial and much of the sand from the beach is gone. That is going to be a problem later in the year. Coquimbo got it worse as did some of the small caletas down the coast. Caleta Totoral was wiped out. It is amazing anyone got out. The tsunami came ashore 3 minutes after the earthquake.

    Sep 22nd, 2015 - 05:19 pm 0
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