6.8 Bolivia quake rattles residents in neighboring Brazil

Bolivia (Google maps)

BRASILIA — South Bolivia’s earthquake on Monday was felt as far away as Brazil’s capital Brasilia, where residents and office workers spilled into the streets.

Though strong enough to be felt even in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, which is located on the other side of the South American continent from Bolivia, neither Brazilian nor Bolivian authorities reported any injury or material damage.

The quake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck southern Bolivia’s Chuquisaca department at 9:40 a.m. local time (13:40 GMT), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

In Brasilia, a city built in the 1950s to serve as the nation’s new capital, some residents told local media it was the strongest quake they had ever experienced.

Images published by Agencia Brasil online showed people milling about outside buildings, and firefighters taping off entryways for inspection.

The ministries of education, justice and industry were evacuated, as were other government agencies, including the Secretariat of Public Security.

The Palacio do Buriti, which houses City Hall in downtown Brasilia, was partially evacuated.

In Bolivia, the quake jolted residents in four other departments: Tarija, Cochabamba, Oruro and La Paz.