7.6 Aftershock Jolts Chilean Coastline Already Hit by Major Quake

A group of people during an evacuation towards higher zones in the city of Iquique, Northern Chile, 02 April 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A new powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale rattled northern Chile late on Wednesday.

The Wednesday quake was located 19 kilometers south of Iquique at a depth of 40 kilometers, the U.S Geological Survey said.

Aftershocks measuring magnitudes of 5.6 and 5.8 occurred after the 7.6 quake, according to the USGS. Both were located around 70 to 75 km southwest of Inquique.

The 7.6-magnitude aftershock followed a 8.2-magnitude quake in the same region on Tuesday. The 8.2-magnitude jolt on Tuesday caused a death toll of six and forced almost one million people to evacuate.

The 7.6-magnitude aftershock registered just before midnight Wednesday caused no major damage or casualties, according to reports of The Chicago Tribune.

Chile's emergency ministry ordered a preventative evacuation along the northern Chilean coastline.

Local media reported that Chilean President Michelle Bachelet had been evacuated from her hotel in the city of Arica.

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