Strong quake shakes Chile capital, causing buildings to sway

Santiago, Sep 17: A powerful earthquake shook Chile's, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets. Tsunami alarms sounded in the port of Valparaiso and authorities issued a tsunami alert for the country's entire coast.

The US Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.9. Chilean authorities recorded it as 7.2. US officials said the quake struck just offshore in the Pacific at 7:54 pm and was centred about 141 miles (228 kilometres) north-northwest of Santiago.

It said the quake was 4.8 miles (over five kilometre) below the surface. Chile's emergency office warned that big waves caused by the quake could hit the coast by 11 pm.

AP