A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck northern Chile, according to the US Geological Survey. | A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake has hit northern Chile, knocking out power and damaging buildings. |
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. | The quake, 60km (37 miles) deep, was centred on the village of Quillahua, about 100km north-west of Calama town, said a presidential spokesman. |
A presidential spokesman said there had been no initial reports of injuries, the AP news agency reported. | It caused panic and toppled power and phone lines, but there were no early reports of injuries. |
| US officials warned the quake could trigger a tsunami, but Chilean authorities played down the risk. | US officials warned the quake could trigger a tsunami, but Chilean authorities played down the risk. |
"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. | "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. |
The quake could reportedly be felt strongly in the capital Santiago, 1,260km to the south. | The quake, which struck at 1243 local time (1543 GMT), 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. | 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. |
| In the cities of Calama and Arica, panicked residents reportedly ran into the streets. | In the cities of Calama and Arica, panicked residents reportedly ran into the streets. |
| Presidential spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber said there had been no initial reports of injuries, AP said. |
| Tsunami warning | 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. | "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 risk was discounted by Chilean authorities, reports 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. |
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