7.8-Magnitude Aftershock Strikes Off Chile's Coast
Activity comes 1 day after major earthquake struck the area.
April 2, 2014— -- A 7.8-magnitude aftershock struck off the coast of Chile on Wednesday, leading to a new round of coastal evacuations one day after an 8.2-magnitude quake struck nearby.
The aftershock hit about 25 miles southwest of the city of Iquique and 6 miles beneath the ocean floor, according to the United States Geological Survey.
No major damage or injuries were reported.
6 Dead, Residents Evacuated After Quake Strikes Off Chile's Coast
Tsunami warnings were issued for Chile and Peru, but those warnings were later canceled.
Among those moved inland was President Michelle Bachelet, who was in the city of Arica assessing damage in the north from Tuesday night's powerful quake.
"I was evacuated like all citizens. One can see that the people are prepared," she tweeted early Thursday.
Chile's evacuation order initially applied to the full coast, but authorities quickly lifted the alert for all but the far-northern shore and even ended it there around 2 a.m. Thursday. The whole coast also was evacuated for several hours after Tuesday's quake, and for the night in the north, although the tsunami proved small.
The aftershock caused buildings to shake and people to run out into the streets in the port of Iquique, which was one of the cities that saw damage from the Tuesday earthquake. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries from the aftershock, which was one of dozens that have followed the magnitude-8.2 quake.
The area is known as the "Ring of Fire," a circle of quake-prone areas on the Pacific Rim.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.