7.2 magnitude quake rocks Chile

Chile´s national emergency office issued a tsunami alert for coastal areas after the five aftershocks rattled the country.

VALPARAISO, March 11, 2010 (AFP) - A powerful 7.2 magnitude aftershock and four smaller ones rocked central Chile Thursday, prompting a tsunami warning minutes before Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as the new president.

The quake, which struck 137 kilometers (85 miles) south of Valparaiso, was the strongest to hit Chile since a massive 8.8 magnitude quake and tsunami February 27 that killed at least 497 people.

Chile's national emergency office issued a tsunami alert for coastal areas after the five aftershocks rattled the country on its inauguration day.

Two aftershocks came before the big one, and two, measuring 6.9 and the other 6.0, followed, the US Geological Servey said.

The biggest aftershock, measured at 7.2 by the US Geological Survey, set off scenes of panic among dignitaries gathered for Pinera's inauguration, including seven Latin American heads of state.

Pinera went ahead and took the oath of office at the seat of the Chilean Congress in Valparaiso, and the parliament was evacuated after local officials issued a tsunami alert.

The 7.2 aftershock was picked up by sensors as far away as Hong Kong.

The Haiwaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, however, said there was no threat of a "destructive widespread tsunami."