Thaindian News

SANTIAGO, CHILE (BNO NEWS) — A series of strong aftershocks rocked central Chile within a timespan of just one hour on Thursday, seismologists said. A major disaster has been declared, but there was no immediate word on casualties.

All the earthquakes struck near the city of Rancagua in the country’s O’Higgins region. The first earthquake had a 6.9-magnitude and was centered about 21 miles deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Chilean officials said the quake had a far more powerful magnitude, a 7.2. Local authorities immediately issued a tsunami warning.

As residents were evacuating coastlines, a second aftershock with a 6.7-magnitude struck about 60 miles west of Rancagua at a depth of 21 miles. That earthquake struck at 11.55 a.m. local time, some 16 minutes after the first earthquake.

A third aftershock struck moments later, at 12.06 p.m. local time. The earthquake had a 6.0-magnitude and was centered about 65 miles west of Santiago, at a depth of 19 miles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no destructive widespread tsunami threat from the earthquakes, but warned the quake could generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100 kilometers of the earthquake epicenter. “Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action,” the agency said in a bulletin. There were no immediate reports of tsunami activity.

Hours after the earthquakes, the extend of the damage was still uncertain. President Pinera, who was being sworn in at the time of the first aftershock, said there were reports of significant damage in Rancagua. He did not say if there were casualties.

Pinera also ordered the military to respond to the region and declared a “state of catastrophe.”

The aftershocks happened nearly two weeks after a massive 8.8-magnitude quake struck the same area, which was one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history.