Earthquake Shakes Chile With 7.2 Magnitude

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck central Chile roughly 20 miles north-northwest of Talca. Residents stated the quake lasted about a minute. Many are saying it was the strongest and longest one they have felt since the one that devastated the area two years ago, though no casualties or major damage have yet been reported.

This is the second significant quake in the last 48 hours for central Chile. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake shook residents of Santiago Saturday morning. The quake caused no major damage or injuries even though its epicenter was in metropolitan Santiago.

Along the long stretch of Chile’s central coast, residents were briefly warned to head for higher ground. Those in Constitucion were especially concerned, after the tsunami caused by the 2010 earthquake devastated most of the coastal downtown located at the mouth of a river.

People were in a panic throughout cities country wide as residents ran from shaking homes and skyscrapers.

Though not much damage has been reported, many neighborhoods have been left partly or completely without power. Phone service has also collapsed because of heavy traffic.

According to initial reports, the U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had occurred offshore which prompted the Chilean navy’s hydrographic and oceanographic service and national emergency office to warn people to head for higher ground. The navy later cancelled the evacuation of residents stating the quake wasn’t the type to provoke a tsunami.

The quake is being reported to have occurred 19 miles (30 kilometers) deep with the epicenter being located 133 miles (215 kilometers) north of Concepcion, and 134 miles (215 kilometers) south of the capital, Santiago.

Check out the video for a glimpse of the earthquake that shook Chile only two years ago.

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