Strong earthquake shakes northern Chile, kills at least two

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2007

SANTIAGO (AFP) — A strong earthquake measuring 7.7 rocked arid northern Chile Wednesday, killing at least two people, sparking panic and causing power outages.

One of the victims was an 88-year-old crushed under a collapsing wall in the city of Tocopilla, 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) north of Santiago and near the quake's epicenter, doctors said.

National Emergency Office director Carmen Fernandez said a second victim was killed in the same town.

Local radio stations said as many as 20 people were injured by collapsing roofs and walls, and expressed concern for the fate of people working in the numerous mines in the area.

"It is a major quake," Fernandez said of the temblor that struck at 12:43 pm (1543 GMT.)

Its epicenter was located 1,260...