Strongly felt quakes shake Chile inauguration
3/11/2010SANTIAGO, Chile — Two strongly felt earthquakes have rocked central Chile as dignitaries arrive for the inauguration of President-elect Sebastian Pinera.
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.”