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Five die, three seriously injured in strong earthquake in Chile

The epicenter of the quake was located 86 kilometers northwest off the Chilean port city of Iquique

BUENOS-AIRES, April 02. /ITAR-TASS/. At least five people died, other three were seriously injured in a strong 8.2 magnitude  earthquake in northern Chile on Wednesday, Chilean Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said.

In his words, four men and one woman died in the quake. They died of heart attack under collapsed parts of buildings. The interior minister also noted that authorities had partially lifted a tsunami warning in the southern part of the Pacific coast.

The earthquake nested at a depth of ten kilometres, the US Geological Survey said earlier. The epicenter was located 86 kilometers northwest off the Chilean port city of Iquique. Thousands of local residents were evacuated over a tsunami threat that will remain in place for several more hours.

The earthquake damaged several buildings and roads and disrupted power supply. Looting cases were reported in several settlements. Meanwhile, 300 prisoners escaped from a women’s prison in the city of Iquique.

In February 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Chile and triggered a tsunami that claimed 524 human lives.