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Powerful quake hits north Chile Powerful quake hits north Chile
(30 minutes later)
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck northern Chile, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck northern Chile, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake, 60km (37 miles) deep, was centred 106km west of the town of Calama and struck at 1240 local time (1540 GMT), the USGS said. The quake, 60km (37 miles) deep, was centred 106km west of the northern town of Calama and struck at 1240 local time (1540 GMT), the survey said.
"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. A presidential spokesman said there had been no initial reports of injuries, the AP news agency reported.
The quake could be felt strongly in the capital, 1,260km south, reported AP. US officials warned the quake could trigger a tsunami, but Chilean authorities played down the risk.
There were reports of outages of electrical and phone services, but no immediate news of casualties. "It was horribly strong. It was very long and there was a lot of underground noise," Andrea Riveros, a hotel worker in Calama, told AP.
The quake could reportedly be felt strongly in the capital Santiago, 1,260km to the south.
In the affected region, there were reports of outages of electrical and phone services, but no immediate news of casualties.
In the cities of Calama and Arica, panicked residents reportedly ran into the streets.
Tsunami warning
"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."
The alert extended to areas "bordering the Pacific Ocean and adjacent seas" off the coasts of Chile and Peru, the centre said.
But the risk was discounted by Chilean authorities, reports said.
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 Lima.In August more than 500 people died when an 8.0 magnitude quake struck neighbouring Peru just south of Lima.