Share View photos A damaged road is seen after a quake at Tarahuin, on Chiloe island, southern Chile, December 25, Witnesses reported intense shaking in their homes and were shocked by the loud noise. The quake disrupted Christmas celebration plans for thousands of people who fled on foot, in cars and on horseback, seeking higher ground amid torrential rains in some places as sirens warned of a potential tsunami.
Chile's National Emergency Office ONEMI lifted both the evacuation order and a tsunami watch three hours after the Christmas Day quake struck, telling nearly 5, people who had evacuated they could return to their homes. Onemi said one bridge in the area was impassable and some roads were closed as crews worked to restore electricity to some 21, homes left without power.
Officials had issued a tsunami warning earlier for areas within 1, km miles of the epicenter, just 39 km But the warning was downgraded to a tsunami watch. Eight mostly small ports in the area were closed, Chile's Navy said. The quake was relatively shallow, at a depth of about Local television showed damage to some homes, especially in Quellon and surrounding areas. Chile, located on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," has a long history of deadly quakes, including a 8.
But death and destruction are limited by strict construction codes especially designed to withstand earthquakes. The region is home to several industrial salmon farms, but there were no signs of structural damage at farms or processing plants, said Jose Miguel Burgos, director of the National Fish and Aquaculture Service, a government agency.
Fishing and agriculture company Empresas AquaChile SA said its employees in the watch zone had been evacuated and were safe, adding that there was no damage to its facilities. Chile is the world's leading copper producer, but there are no major mines located near the zone affected by the earthquake.
