SANTIAGO, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP/AFP): A strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake
rattled central Chile on Monday, US geologists said.
The quake, which struck at 6:30 pm (2130 GMT), was centered off the
coast of the resort city of Valparaiso and had a depth of 9.8 kilometers (about six miles), according to the US Geological Survey.
Authorities urged residents to evacuate coastal areas as a precaution
against a possible tsunami.
Chile lies on what is known as the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of fault
lines that circles the Pacific Basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The north of the country was struck by an 8.3-magnitude temblor
followed by a tsunami in September 2015, killing 15 people.
In 2010, a quake measuring 8.8 in magnitude was also followed by a
tsunami. It struck the center and south of the country, killing more than 500 people.