Chileans worry over string of 300 quakes in north

reuters.com An unusually large number of tremors following a recent earthquake in northern Chile has unnerved local residents - emptying beaches, pushing up sales of emergency rations, and raising concerns about what may lie ahead for the copper-producing area. Living in one of the world's most earthquake-prone zones, Chileans are accustomed to the regular tremors that ripple through their country, which has strict quake-proof regulations for construction. But the far northern region of Tarapaca has undergone an unusually high number of tremors in a small area around the port towns of Iquique and Pisagua since a relatively strong magnitude 6.7 tremor hit on March 16. "This is already unusual," said Mario Pardo, a director at the University of Chile's seismic center, on Tuesday. "There are too many aftershocks to be only associated with the 6.7 quake." "This is an anomaly that has been extensive in terms of time and persistent in terms of magnitude." Over 40 of the more than 300 tremors since the quake were strong enough to be felt by residents, according to experts. to read more: reuters.com