Quake Downs Walls, Cuts Power in Northern Chile

May 15, 2012

An earthquake has shaken down walls and knocked out electricity in parts of far-northern Chile. No injuries have been reported, though.

The U.S. Geological Survey calculates the magnitude as 6.2 and says it was centered about 41 miles (66 kilometers) east-northeast of Tacna, Peru. It occurred at 6 a.m. local time (6 a.m. EDT; 1000 GMT)

Tarapaca region Gov. Jose Durana says “walls have fallen in some sectors” some roads were cut off.

Many people in the northern town of Arica fled into the streets as the shaking started.