Quake waves leave 3 dead

SANTIAGO – Rescuers found the bodies of three people who were swept out to sea by huge waves triggered by a powerful earthquake that sent avalanches crashing into a fjord in southern Chile.

Seven others were missing. While there was no tsunami, Saturday’s 6,2-magnitude earthquake caused masses of rock and earth to plunge from surrounding hills into the narrow inlet, creating 8-metre waves.The roaring, white-capped water destroyed boats, uprooted trees and overwhelmed beachgoers.Police Major Claudio Escobar said on Sunday that the search would continue until the seven missing people had been located.A correspondent for Chilevision television, who was at the beach to install an antenna, said he saw a man and his young daughter dragged into the water by a large wave.The government’s Emergency Bureau identified the three bodies as Ernesto Contreras, 65; his wife, Elsa Poblete, 54; and their 2-year-old grandson Genaro Linay.They were found in Aysen Fjord, near the epicenter of the quake.The seven missing people weren’t identified.Nampa-APWhile there was no tsunami, Saturday’s 6,2-magnitude earthquake caused masses of rock and earth to plunge from surrounding hills into the narrow inlet, creating 8-metre waves.The roaring, white-capped water destroyed boats, uprooted trees and overwhelmed beachgoers.Police Major Claudio Escobar said on Sunday that the search would continue until the seven missing people had been located.A correspondent for Chilevision television, who was at the beach to install an antenna, said he saw a man and his young daughter dragged into the water by a large wave.The government’s Emergency Bureau identified the three bodies as Ernesto Contreras, 65; his wife, Elsa Poblete, 54; and their 2-year-old grandson Genaro Linay.They were found in Aysen Fjord, near the epicenter of the quake.The seven missing people weren’t identified.Nampa-AP