SANTIAGO: Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet was evacuated from her hotel in the northern city of Arica after a strong 7.8 magnitude quake triggered a tsunami alert, local media reported on Wednesday.
She was visiting the area assessing damages after a massive 8.2 magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami rocked the area on Tuesday.
The latest quake, the largest of a series of aftershocks following the powerful and deadly 8.2 magnitude quake that hit on Tuesday, was located (19 km) south of the port of Iquique at a relatively shallow depth of (20 km), the USGS said. It was earlier reported as a 7.4 magnitude quake.
Chile’s navy canceled a tsunami alert for all of the coastline on Wednesday.
Chile’s emergency office, Onemi, which had earlier asked residents to evacuate the coastline, said “people can return to their homes.” (Reuters)
