21,000 homes lose power after earthquake off Chile coast

About 21,000 homes were without power Sunday after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook the coast of southern Chile, Reuters reported.

The earthquake forced thousands to evacuate their homes in coastal areas, but no deaths or major damage was reported.

About three hours after the earthquake struck, Chile’s National Emergency Office lifted its evacuation order, allowing about 5,000 people to return to their homes.

{mosads}The emergency office also lifted its tsunami watch.

Officials had originally issued a tsunami warning, but it was later downgraded to a tsunami watch.

The earthquake was felt in Argentina as well.

“There was a lot, a lot of movement here, but besides that nothing of note, there weren’t houses falling,” said Alamiro Vera, owner of the Cabanas Hotel in the southern Chile fishing town of Quellon.

“It was just scary, and some things inside fell.”

In 2010, Chile was hit with an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the south-central coast, which triggered a tsunami.