A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 rocked off the coast of Chile on Monday.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck off the southern region. No injuries or damages were yet reported, and experts aren’t issuing a warning of a tsunami to residents, CNN reported.
The quake hit an estimated 388 miles west of Puerto Aisen. Earthquakes are common in the nation.
In 2010, an 8.8 magnitude quake that led to a tsunami left 551 people dead and 220,000 homes in shambles, The Associated Press reported. The tsunami also washed away an entire coastline of docks, riverfronts and resorts.
The storm was so strong that it actually changed time, shortening day slightly by changing the Earth’s rotation, AP said.
Chile is also home to the world’s strongest earthquake. That was in 1960 and was a magnitude 9.5. More than 5,000 were killed in that event, AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.