CRISISBOOM

Shaky ground: A local resident hurries to abandon the waterfront after an earthquake in Constitucion, south from Santiago, on February 11, 2011. Picture: Diego Garcia Source: AFP

The latest tremor hit 41 kilometres northwest of the central city of Concepcion at a depth of 17.7 kilometres. The quakes earlier in the day measured 6.0 and 5.8.

On Friday two quakes – measuring 6.3 and a 6.8 – rattled the region.

All the tremors have occurred in the same area heavily damaged by an 8.8 magnitude quake nearly a year ago.

That disaster resulted in more than 500 deaths and $30 billion in damage, and led to an inquiry over the lack of a timely tsunami warning.