Chile aftershocks could go on for years: scientists

[Judi Lynn]

Chile aftershocks could go on for years: scientists
Fri Mar 5, 12:38 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Chileans will be feeling aftershocks following last week's 8.8-magnitude earthquake for months and possibly years, scientists said Friday, as three strong tremors rocked the country.

"The larger the earthquake, the larger the aftershocks, the more of them and the longer they're going to last," said John Bellini, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey (USGS) in Colorado.

"They will wind down in number, but they will probably be noticeable to people for months and could go on possibly for years," he told AFP.

Chile has been rattled by more than 200 aftershocks since the historic monster quake struck the South American country six days ago, killing some 800 people as buildings collapsed and tsunamis swept people to sea.

Several have topped 6.0 on the Richter scale, including Friday's three tremors, which were powerful enough to cause already damaged buildings to collapse.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100305/sc_afp/chilequakeaftershockscience

[rabs]

1. Live TV from Chile

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tv-de-chile

Aftershocks, government offering free funerals, TV crews on motorcycles trying to get to fishing villages that were wiped out. Neighbors helping neighbors.