New Delhi: A strong earthquake hit northern Chile on Wednesday.
The quake, which measured 7.7 degrees on the Richter scale killed at least two and injured more than a hundred others.
Thousands of residents, particularly in the area with the maximum damage, Tocopilla, were rendered homeless.
The area rocked by the earthquake lies between Chile's northern Pacific coast on one side and the barren Atacama desert and towering Andes mountains on the other.
The quake rattled buildings, and local media reports indicated electricity was out in some areas and even the telecommunication service was uneven in most areas.
The tremor was also felt in neighbouring Peru and Bolivia. A tsunami warning was issued immediately but it was later recalled as the quake only generated 2 foot waves.
The United States Geological Service said that the quake was 60 Km deep and its epicentre was 106 Km west of the town of Calama.
Two hours later, a second quake of 5.7 magnitude struck the same region. The area has many massive copper mines owing to which, copper prices hurtle upwards in global markets.
Chile is one of the countries that border the Ring of Fire earthquake zone in the Pacific. The most powerful earthquake in recent history - 9.5 degrees magnitude - had occurred in 1960 in Chile and had killed thousands.
With inputs from Associated Press
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