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7.0 quake shakes Chile capital Santiago - USGS


    SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rattled central Chile on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, striking close to a zone hit by a devastating quake a year ago and shaking buildings in the capital Santiago.

    "For the moment there are no reports of any damage or injuries," a spokesman for government emergency agency Onemi said.

    "The Navy alert centre says there is no risk of a tsunami," he added.

    Some residents fled into the street in parts of south-central Chile.

    The offshore quake was 28 miles (45 km) north of Concepcion and 11.4 miles (18.4 km) deep, the USGS said. It was 243 miles (392 km) south-southwest of Santiago, it said.

    An 8.8-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck Chile on February 27 last year, killing about 500 people and wrecking infrastructure across central-southern areas of the country.

    (Reporting by Simeon Gardner; Editing by Eric Walsh)