Quake jolts western Argentina

2007-11-14 19:10

Buenos Aires - An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale hit the western Argentine city of San Juan on Wednesday, with no injuries immediately reported, as a major quake rocked northern Chile.

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage but panicky residents of San Juan poured into local streets, the National Earthquake Office said. Its epicentre was in western Argentina, the office said.

And it came just as a strong earthquake measuring 7.7 rocked northern Chile sparking panic and triggering a tsunami warning for the region, officials said.

San Juan was hit by Argentina's deadliest earthquake in 1944 when 10 000 people were killed and thousands hurt.

- AFP