SANTIAGO - A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 shook the northern mining region of Chile late on Monday, causing power cuts and driving residents from their homes in the heavily populated city of Iquique.
There were no immediate reports of casualties although authorities said the region suffered power cuts and telephone communication was down in the area.
"We are evaluating the situation minute to minute," one official from Chile's national emergency center ONEMI told Reuters.
Local television reported that the cities of Iquique and Arica were the most affected by the quake, also felt in Peru and Bolivia.
The US Geological Survey said on its Web site that the quake measured 7.9, meaning it was capable of widespread and heavy damage.
Local oceanography experts said the earthquake did not pose any threat of a tsunami as its epicenter was in the mountains, and not in ocean.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
