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USGS: 6.0 quake strikes off coast of Chile

April 17, 2009, 03:41 PM Post Comments
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A strong earthquake struck off the coast of Chile late Thursday, but authorities reported there were no victims or damage.

The temblor had a magnitude of 6.0 and hit a little after 10 p.m. local time (0200 GMT Friday), according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

It was centered about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of the port city of Iquique, which lies some 1,000 miles (some 1,500 kilometers) from the capital, Santiago.

Chile's Emergency Bureau told The Associated Press the tremor was felt moderately in Iquique and other towns in the region, but nobody was harmed and there was no damage.

Powerful earthquakes are common in the South American nation, which stretches along the quake-prone Pacific "Ring of Fire."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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