SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – Chile hasn’t been able to put aside its earthquake fears as it inaugurates a new president.

Even as Sebastian Pinera was sworn in, a series of strong aftershocks from last month’s devastating quake rocked Chile today.

The new president immediately urged coastal residents to move to higher ground in case of a tsunami.

The Chilean Navy issued a tsunami warning. The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says the aftershocks were too small to cause dangerous waves beyond Chile’s central coast.

The strongest aftershock had a magnitude of 6.9 – nearly as strong as the quake that devastated Haiti’s capital in January. But there are no reports of new damage or injuries.

Today’s seven aftershocks caused buildings to sway and sent frightened Chileans into the streets.

Pinera – a billionaire investor and Harvard-trained economist – is the first right-wing president to take office in Chile in a half-century.
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