Chile Panics over Strong Offshore Earthquake

World | January 23, 2012, Monday // 20:03
Bulgaria: Chile Panics over Strong Offshore Earthquake A picture made available on 26 February 2011 shows a sign that indicates `Danger zone due to tsunami` in the locality of Coliumo, affected during the last 27 February 2010 earthquake and the following tsunami that hit Chile, in Coliumo. EPA/BGNES

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Monday off the shore of central Chile, the same area devastated by a massive earthquake in 2010.

There have been no immediate reports of damage and authorities said it would not cause a tsunami, international media reported.

Monday's quake was centered 50 km northwest of Concepcion, and at 20 km deep. But Chile's navy announced that it wasn't the kind of quake to generate a deadly tsunami of the kind that ravaged nearby coastal cities when an magnitude-8.8 quake devastated Chile in 2010.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at 1:04 p.m. local time (16:04 GMT) with a magnitude of 6.2. Chilean seismologists measured it as a less-powerful 5.8.

Chile's national emergency office said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The much-stronger quake that struck on Feb. 27, 2010, killed 524 and caused 31 disappearances, wrecking 220,000 homes and leaving USD 30 B in damage. The disaster agency and the navy shared the blame for a botched tsunami warning then that gave some coastal dwellers a false sense of security.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

World » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Earthquake, Chile, tsunami, tsunami warning

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria