Reuters-Chile Rocked By 5.3 Earthquake (Countdown Apocalypto?)

Image from Chile's 2010 earthquake: inhabitat.com

(Story reported by Reuters)

(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.3 earthquake rattled central Chile on Wednesday, shaking buildings in the capital Santiago, but there were no reports of any damage or injuries, the government said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck 45 miles north-northeast of the central Chilean port city of Valparaiso, at a depth of 15.3 miles.

Reuters witnesses said buildings swayed in Santiago, 75 miles miles to the east.

"There are no reports of any damage or injuries," a spokeswoman for state emergency office Onemi told Reuters.

Quake-prone Chile's economy is still recovering from a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake a year ago, which hammered towns, infrastructure and industries in south-central Chile and killed more than 500 people.

(Click here to read the full story on the Reuters.com website)