5 March: Aftershocks shake Chile again
A series of strong aftershocks has rattled Chile, not far from where the deadly 8.8 magnitude quake caused widespread destruction and triggered a tsunami nearly a week ago.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the aftershock early Friday had a magnitude of 6.6 and was centered 41 kilometers northwest of Concepcion, the city hardest hit by last Saturday's quake. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
A magnitude 6.3 aftershock rocked northern Chile late Thursday.
Earlier, Chile declared a three-day mourning period to remember those lost in Saturday's quake. The official death toll from the quake stands at 802, but reports say Chile is reviewing that figure because in some places the missing were counted as dead.
President Michelle Bachelet has said it could take at least three or four years to rebuild the country.
She has said reconstruction costs following the massive quake could total about $30 billion.
Chile has received an outpouring of support and pledges from the international community. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took 25 satellite phones to Chile as an initial U.S. contribution during a visit earlier this week.
The Organization of American States said in a statement Thursday it is donating 20 satellite phones to Chile to help in re-establishing communication in areas isolated following the initial quake.
OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza, who is from Chile, has said the country can count on all the cooperation the OAS can provide.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is scheduled to meet Friday in Santiago with President Bachelet and President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who takes office March 11.
Mr. Ban also is expected to visit Chile's second-largest city of Concepcion, one of the areas most affected by the 8.8 magnitude quake.
Meanwhile, rescue teams working with search dogs have been scouring collapsed buildings in search of victims in Concepcion, which was the city closest to the epicenter of the first quake.
VOA News
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