Earthquake Update: New fears spread as aftershocks rattle Chile

A first 6.2-magnitude aftershock jolted people awake at 0920 GMT, yesterday just six days after the 8.8-magnitude quake which, along with the tsunami, left more than 800 people dead and some two million homeless.

That was followed by a 6.8-magnitude tremor — one of the strongest of more than 200 to rattle Chile since the weekend — and another measuring 6.6. Some damaged buildings in Concepcion, the country’s second city and worst affected by the big quake, collapsed, but the national emergency services said the aftershocks caused no injuries or serious damage.

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Chile Earthquake Update

Aftershocks weaken Chile's quake-damaged buildings (Videos, Pictures, Photos)

At least seven significant aftershocks shook Chile on Saturday, the largest with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

No additional damage or injuries were immediately reported, but aftershocks have dangerously weakened buildings all across the disaster zone, including a 22-story office tower whose now-exposed upper floors have partly pancacked and threaten to crash down onto downtown Concepcion. The city's mayor has announced at least five contracts for controlled demolitions of such buildings.

At least 500,000 homes were destroyed, but the figure could reach 1.5 million once surveys are complete, Housing Minister Patricia Poblete said.

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Aftershocks weaken Chile's quake-damaged buildings