Chile Struck by 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake: 100,000 People Lose Power in Santiago
A strong seismic event shook Chile on Saturday, which was felt in various parts of the South American country. The earthquake is the first since a stronger earthquake earlier this year in northern Chile.
Initially the earthquake was recorded to be of a 6.6-degree magnitude on the Richter scale and was felt Saturday afternoon, according to Voice of America. Chilean government officials say that no severe damage was recorded, and the Chilean Navy said there was no risk of a tsunami.
However, people in the capital city of Santiago and elsewhere lost electrical power. The earthquake struck more than 30 miles away from the Chilean coastal city of Valparaiso, according to Chile's emergency service ONEMI, and some 100,000 people lost power in Santiago.
One of Chile's many copper mines, Andina, was reported to not have been affected by the seismic event and continues to operate, said Chilean mining company Codelco.
According to the EFE news agency, the earthquake was eventually downgraded to a 6.4-degree magnitude. It was felt in the regions of Coquimbo, Valparaíso, O'Higgins, Maule, Biobío and Araucanía, said ONEMI. The correction to the earthquake's strength was made by the University of Chile's National Seismological Center.
Subsequent aftershocks were felt in various areas near the epicenter, the strongest of which reached a 4-degree magnitude in Valparaiso. According to EFE, Jorge Castro, the port city's mayor said that the earthquake affected traffic lights and electric service.
The Santiago neighborhoods of Las Condes, Providencia, San Miguel, La Cisterna and Puente Alto lost power during the earthquake, said capital's mayor Claudio Orrego.
A soccer game between Unión Española and Universidad de Concepción Fuerte was also postponed.
The Associated Press reports some hours after the earthquake, electric power was reestablished to the affected areas. In addition, AP reports that telecommunications were repaired as well.
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