Strong Chile aftershocks today measure 7.6

A 7.6-magnitude and another 6.2 aftershock has rocked the same area of northern Chile Wednesday evening shortly before midnight where a massive 8.2 earthquake struck on Tuesday afternoon.

A 7.6-magnitude and another 6.2 aftershock has rocked the same area of northern Chile Wednesday evening shortly before midnight where a massive 8.2 earthquake struck on Tuesday afternoon. The earlier quake, which caused a tsunami, killed six people and forced almost one million others to evacuate.

The two Wednesday night quakes occurred just before 02:43 GMT or 23.43 local time off the northern coast of Chile, 19 km (14 miles) south of Iquique, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter of the latest quake was located at a shallow depth of 40 km (24.9 miles).

Chileโ€™s emergency ministry has ordered a preventative evacuation along the northern Chilean coastline.

However there have been no official reports of damage or injury in Chile or Peru, according to Reuters.

The UK government today issued this travel advisory for Chile:
“We are aware of reports of further earthquakes off the northern coast of Chile on 02 April. Including a 7.8 at 23.45 local time. A tsunami warning was issued for Chile and Peru and has subsequently been cancelled. We are in contact with the National Emergency Services in Chile. If you are a British National affected by this incident you should monitor local media and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Border crossings are sometimes closed due to the weather or earthquakes. Check the website of the Chilean Ministry of Public Works for the latest information.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism.
Most visits to Chile are trouble-free. ”

A tsunami warning issued for Chile and Peru has been canceled, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

โ€œBased on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected,โ€ it said earlier. However minor tsunami waves did hit the northern coast of the country.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has been evacuated from the Arica coast, local media has reported.

Aftershocks measuring magnitudes of 5.6 and 5.8 occurred after the 7.6 quake, according to the USGS. Both were located around 70 to 75 km (43 to 46 miles) southwest of Inquique.

Another strong aftershock, measured at magnitude 6.4, also struck 47 km (29 miles) west of Iquique at around 01:58 GMT Wednesday evening.

This comes one day after an 8.2 magnitude quake hit 95 km (59 miles) northwest of the same area, around Iquique.

After Tuesdayโ€™s quake, tsunami warnings spurred the evacuation of 900,000 people and 11 hospitals along the coastline, government officials said.

At least six people died following the quake, Chile’s Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said. Many of the victims died from heart attacks or falling debris.

Data on the 7.6 quake
2014-04-03 02:43:17 UTC
2014-04-02 23:43:17 UTC-03:00 at epicenter
2014-04-02 19:43:17 UTC-07:00 system time
Location

20.400ยฐS 70.135ยฐW depth=40.0km (24.9mi)

Nearby Cities

19km (12mi) S of Iquique, Chile
187km (116mi) N of Tocopilla, Chile
213km (132mi) S of Arica, Chile
260km (162mi) NNW of Calama, Chile
479km (298mi) SSW of La Paz, Bolivia

Second 6.2 quake:
3 Apr 2014 05:26:16 UTC
3 Apr 2014 00:26:16 near epicenter
2 Apr 2014 18:26:16 standard time in your timezone
Location 20.807S 70.549W
Depth 24 km
Distances
77 km (47 mi) SSW of Iquique, Chile
146 km (90 mi) NNW of Tocopilla, Chile
248 km (153 mi) NW of Calama, Chile
259 km (160 mi) S of Arica, Chile
539 km (334 mi) SSW of La Paz, Bolivia

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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