SANTIAGO, Chile - A magnitude-7.2 earthquake hit Chile on the day of the presidential inauguration of Sebastian Pinera.
Chile's emergency office said there were no immediate reports of damage, but the Chilean navy issued a tsunami alert.
Reuters witnesses said they had felt two strong aftershocks within minutes of each other
The main aftershock was centered about 77 miles west-southwest of Santiago and was measured at a depth of 6.2 miles, USGS said.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the first quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 and the second registered at 7.2. Both rocked buildings in the capital, shook windows and provoked nervous smiles among dignitaries arriving for Thursday's ceremony at the congressional building in coastal Valparaiso.
Bolivian President Evo Morales seemed briefly disoriented. Peru's Alan Garcia joked that it gave them "a moment to dance."
Chile was hit by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Feb. 27 that killed hundreds.
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Major earthquake hits Santiago, Chile - Americas- msnbc.com 
03-11-2010 , 09:38 AM
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