PONCE, Puerto Rico (AP) A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn today, killing one man, injuring at least eight other people and collapsing buildings.
The quake was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, part of a 10-day series of temblors spawned by the grinding of tectonic plates along three faults beneath southern Puerto Rico. Seismologists say its impossible to predict when the quakes will stop or whether they will get stronger.
The 6.4-magnitude quake cut power to the island as power plants shut down to protect themselves. Authorities said two plants suffered light damage and they expected power to be restored later today. Puerto Ricos main airport was operating normally, using generator power.
Ive never been so scared in my life, said Nelson Rivera, a 70-year-old resident who fled his home in the city of Ponce, near the epicenter of the quake. I didnt think we would get out. I said: Well be buried here.
Teacher Rey González told The Associated Press that his uncle was killed when a wall collapsed on him at the home they shared in Ponce. He said 73-year-old Nelson Martínez was disabled and that he and his father cared for him.
Eight people were injured in Ponce, Mayor Mayita Meléndez told WAPA television. Hundreds of people sat in the streets of the city, some cooking food on barbeque grills, afraid to return home for fear of structural damage and aftershocks.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at 4:24 a.m. just south of the island at a shallow depth of six miles. It initially gave the magnitude as 6.6 but later adjusted it. At 7:18 a.m., a magnitude-6.0 aftershock hit the same area. People reported strong shaking and staff at a local radio station said live on air that they were leaving their building
A tsunami alert was issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the initial quake, but was later canceled.
In the historic district of Ponce, authorities evacuated more than 150 people from two buildings they said are in danger of collapsing. Among them were more than two dozen elderly patients from a nursing home who sat in their wheelchairs in silence as the earth continued to tremble.
Amir Señeriz leaned against the cracked wall of his Freemason Lodge in Ponce and wailed.
The roof of the 1915 building was partially collapsed and dust and debris lay around him.
Outside, he had already carefully placed 10 large historic paintings. The earth continued trembling as he went back into the building to recover more artifacts.
Helping him was artist Nelson Figueroa, 44, who said he slept in his street clothes.
It was chaos, he said, adding that there was a traffic jam in his coastal neighborhood as terrified people fled.
Albert Rodríguez, who is from the southwest town of Guánica, said the tsunami sirens went off before officials canceled the alert. He said there is widespread damage in his neighborhood.
