3 Apr 2014

Chile hit by another strong jolt

10:09 pm on 3 April 2014

A powerful aftershock measuring 7.6 has rocked northern Chile, a day after a deadly earthquake in the same region.

Sirens rang again late on Wednesday and thousands of people in the north who had just endured the 8.2-magnitude quake were again ordered to evacuate inland from coastal areas, authorities said.

Residents from Iquique spend a second night away from their homes after a strong aftershock near the city on Wednesday.

Residents from Iquique spend a second night away from their homes after a strong aftershock near the city on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

President Michelle Bachelet was moved to higher ground while visiting the damaged city of Arica.

President Michelle Bachelet was moved to higher ground while visiting the damaged city of Arica. Photo: AFP

The aftershock was close to the port city of Iquique, which bore the brunt of Tuesday's quake in which six people died, and was also 20km deep.

It generated waves 70cm high, but a tsunami alert for Chile and Peru has been cancelled. The Chilean government said it has no reports of injury or serious damage.

President Michelle Bachelet, who had been inspecting damage in Arica after declaring northern parts of the country a disaster zone, was moved to higher ground on Wednesday.

Tuesday's tremor struck at 8.46pm (local time) and was felt as far inland as landlocked Bolivia.

There have been rockslides and major roads have been damaged. In Iquique, fishing boats were smashed by the high seas and a two-metre tsunami warning was issued.

Police and soldiers have been patrolling the streets to prevent looting in affected areas. The chaos on Tuesday allowed some 300 inmates to escape after the wall of a women's prison collapsed in Iquique and 110 have been recaptured.

The US Geological Survey had sounded the alarm that an even bigger earthquake than Tuesday's could hit Chile based on their study of tectonic plates.

Houses in Iquique were damaged in Tuesday's quake.

Houses in Iquique were damaged in Tuesday's quake. Photo: AFP