An unusually strong earthquake shook central and western Argentina Tuesday, leaving one woman dead, La Nacion reports.
The quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck a few minutes before 9 a.m., local time, near the city of Catamarca -- more than 700 miles northwest of the capital Buenos Aires -- where a 68-year-old woman reportedly died from an asthma attack prompted by fright from the tremor, La Nacion reported.
Several children were also reportedly hurt as a result of falling building debris.
Tremors were felt as far as Buenos Aires, where buildings shook and several were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Tremors in the region usually originate in neighboring Chile and rarely reach 6 or higher.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
