Rare earthquake rattles Argentina

An unusually strong earthquake for Argentina has caused panic and left at least one person dead.

The epicentre of the quake, with an estimated magnitude of 6.3, was in the remote north-west but it could be felt as far away as Buenos Aires.

Many people ran out of their houses after the tremor struck, police said. Seismologists have warned Argentines to expect aftershocks.

Argentina sometimes suffers small quakes, but they rarely cause damage.

Authorities said the quake was located just south of the provincial city of Catamarca, about 975km (625 miles) from the capital.

"It was very strong. It was the strongest earthquake we've ever had. People panicked and ran down the stairs and out of the building," one woman told Associated Press Television News.