Chile hit by 5.3-magnitude earthquake

MOSCOW.March 17. KAZINFORM An earthquake measuring 5.3 points on the Richter scale has hit Chile, the U.S. Geological Survey reported; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

The quake occurred late on Wednesday about 45 miles to the northeast of the central Chilean port city of Valparaiso, at a depth of 15.3 miles.

There have been no reports of victims or damage.

A powerful quake measuring 8.8 points on the Richter scale occurred to the north of Concepcion in February. The earthquake and an ensuing tsunami killed about 500 people and leaft some 2 million Chileans homeless. The country has since seen several dozen strong tremors.