More Earthquakes Rock Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile - Chile's new president, Sebastian Pinera, urged coastal residents to move to higher ground and the congress was evacuated after a series of earthquakes and aftershocks.

The preliminary magnitude of the first was 7.2.  It happened at  11:39:47 a.m. local time.

A second quake at 11:55:30 a.m. local time was recorded as a magnitude 6.9.

The epicenter of the first was 77 miles WSW from the capital city, Santiago.  It was felt as far way as Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The second quake struck  80 miles SW of Santiago.

A tsunami was not expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast. No tsunami warning, watch or advisory was in effect for these areas after the quake.

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake in February killed more than 700 people in Chile.

Pinera takes over the presidency of Chile with the challenge of rebuilding a nation devastated by one of strongest ever recorded earthquakes and a tsunami.

Outgoing President Michelle Bachelet was to hand power over to Pinera at 12:00 pm local time at the seat of Congress in Valparaiso, 75 miles west of Santiago.