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Major 7.7 Earthquake Shakes Chile

'Horribly strong' temblor felt across 1,300 miles in South America

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2007 10:44 AM CST

(Newser) – A magnitude 7.7 earthquake rattled through northern Chile this morning, the AP reports, cutting power and causing injuries, but no deaths. The US Geological Survey said the temblor was centered 780 miles north of the capital Santiago, and a government spokeswoman said it was felt across 1,300 miles. "It was horribly strong. It was very long and there was a lot of underground noise," one eyewitness said.

The USGS said the quake's 37.8-mile depth diminished its power. The quake centered on a mineral-rich area, Reuters reports. State copper mine Codelco had no immediate word on damages, but Chile is the world's leader copper producer and futures in New York jumped 3.2%. Meanwhile, officials downplayed the threat of tsunami.
 

Chile's capital city, Santiago. We are evaluating the impact that the quake might have caused, a spokesman for Chile's National Emergency Office told television reporters.
Chile's capital city, Santiago. "We are evaluating the impact that the quake might have caused," a spokesman for Chile's National Emergency Office told television reporters.   (Wikimedia Commons)
The nation of Chile, seen here highlighted in red has been shaken by a major 7.7. earthquake.
The nation of Chile, seen here highlighted in red has been shaken by a major 7.7. earthquake.   (Wikimedia Commons)
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck the South American nation of Chile.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck the South American nation of Chile.   (Wikimedia Commons; Composite)
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