Another powerful earthquake rocks northern Chile

Locals gather on the street following a tsunami alert after a powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit off Chile’s Pacific coast, on April 1, 2014 in Antofagasta. AFP FILE PHOTO

SANTIAGO — A powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 rocked northern Chile late Wednesday, the day after a deadly 8.2 jolt in the same region, authorities said.

A tsunami warning was issued and thousands of people were ordered to evacuate inland from coastal areas, according to authorities who had first measured the quake at 7.4.

The new temblor struck at 2343 local (0143 GMT), 20 kilometers south of the city of Iquique, the navy’s alert service said.

“Based on its strength a tsunami warning has been issued,” the national oceanographic agency, known as CHOA, added.

Thousands of Chileans had just returned home after spending the night on hills following Tuesday’s 8.2-magnitude earthquake that killed six people and sparked tsunami fears as far as Japan.

The tremors were felt as far inland as landlocked Bolivia and sparked evacuation warnings up the Pacific coast of South America and into Central America.

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