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| Powerful quake hits north Chile | Powerful quake hits north Chile |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake has hit northern Chile, knocking out power and damaging buildings. | A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake has hit northern Chile, knocking out power and damaging buildings. |
| The quake hit at 1243 local time (1543 GMT), centring on Quillahua village, about 100km north-west of Calama town. | The quake hit at 1243 local time (1543 GMT), centring on Quillahua village, about 100km north-west of Calama town. |
| Some people were injured in the coastal city of Tocopilla, but they were not in a serious condition, officials said. | Some people were injured in the coastal city of Tocopilla, but they were not in a serious condition, officials said. |
| The quake - lasting about 40 seconds - sent panicked residents out into the streets. It could even be felt in the capital Santiago, 1,260km to the south. | The quake - lasting about 40 seconds - sent panicked residents out into the streets. It could even be felt in the capital Santiago, 1,260km to the south. |
| TV pictures showed cars crushed by the concrete awning of a hotel in Antofagasta. | TV pictures showed cars crushed by the concrete awning of a hotel in Antofagasta. |
| A reporter for local Radio Cooperativa said she saw cracks in the tarmac at the airport there | A reporter for local Radio Cooperativa said she saw cracks in the tarmac at the airport there |
| "It was horribly strong. It was very long and there was a lot of underground noise," Andrea Riveros, a hotel worker in Calama, told news agency AP. | "It was horribly strong. It was very long and there was a lot of underground noise," Andrea Riveros, a hotel worker in Calama, told news agency AP. |
| Another worker at a hotel close to Calama told AP the hotel felt "like a floating island" during the quake, which knocked down power lines, cracked windows and knocked pieces off of nearby houses. | Another worker at a hotel close to Calama told AP the hotel felt "like a floating island" during the quake, which knocked down power lines, cracked windows and knocked pieces off of nearby houses. |
| "I was very frightened. It was very strong. I've never felt one that strong," Paola Barria said. | "I was very frightened. It was very strong. I've never felt one that strong," Paola Barria said. |
| In the Bolivian capital La Paz buildings were temporarily evacuated but no damage was reported. | In the Bolivian capital La Paz buildings were temporarily evacuated but no damage was reported. |
| Tsunami warning | Tsunami warning |
| Shortly after the earthquake struck the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami alert. | Shortly after the earthquake struck the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami alert. |
| "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicentre within minutes to hours," said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. | "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicentre within minutes to hours," said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. |
| "Authorities in the region should take appropriate action in response to this possibility." | "Authorities in the region should take appropriate action in response to this possibility." |
| The alert extended to areas "bordering the Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas" off the coasts of Chile and Peru, the centre said. | The alert extended to areas "bordering the Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas" off the coasts of Chile and Peru, the centre said. |
| But the tsunami risk was played down by Chilean authorities, with AFP news agency quoting presidential spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber as saying it was unlikely as the epicentre was inland. | But the tsunami risk was played down by Chilean authorities, with AFP news agency quoting presidential spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber as saying it was unlikely as the epicentre was inland. |
| Two tectonic plates - the Nazca and the South American - clash in this region. | Two tectonic plates - the Nazca and the South American - clash in this region. |
| In August more than 500 people died when an 8.0 magnitude quake struck neighbouring Peru just south of the capital, Lima. | In August more than 500 people died when an 8.0 magnitude quake struck neighbouring Peru just south of the capital, Lima. |
| Have you been affected by this story, are you in the area? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by this story, are you in the area? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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