Panic spreads in quake zone as aftershocks shake residents

A pair of aftershocks only six seconds apart have hit the quake zone in Chile, provoking a brief panic among citizens.

The rumor of a tsunami warning spread fast among locals and journalists, with some residents of Concepcion running for higher ground.

But it appeared to be a false alarm as no tsunami warning was issued and no injuries or damage were reported.

The US Geological Survey says Wednesday's tremors both had preliminary magnitudes of around 6 on the Richter scale.

A woman, victim of a panic attack after a tsunami alert, is loaded on a stretcher in Constitucion, Chile, Wednesday, March 3, 2010. A 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit Chile early Saturday. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)