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Tsunami alert as Chile hit by powerful earthquake | Tsunami alert as Chile hit by powerful earthquake |
(35 minutes later) | |
A powerful earthquake has hit central Chile, causing buildings to sway in the capital Santiago, officials say. | A powerful earthquake has hit central Chile, causing buildings to sway in the capital Santiago, officials say. |
The 8.3-magnitude tremor was centred off the coast, about 144 miles (232km) north-west of the capital. | The 8.3-magnitude tremor was centred off the coast, about 144 miles (232km) north-west of the capital. |
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that "widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible". | The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that "widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible". |
One person was killed by a falling wall, and evacuation was ordered in coastal areas. Tsunami sirens were heard in the port of Valparaiso. | |
The earthquake struck just off the coast at 19:54 local times (22:54 GMT), about 55km west of the city of Illapel, the US Geological Survey said. | The earthquake struck just off the coast at 19:54 local times (22:54 GMT), about 55km west of the city of Illapel, the US Geological Survey said. |
Officials said it was at the depth of about 10km. | Officials said it was at the depth of about 10km. |
The US Geological Survey initially reported the tremor as magnitude 7.9, but then quickly revised the reading to 8.3. | The US Geological Survey initially reported the tremor as magnitude 7.9, but then quickly revised the reading to 8.3. |
Several strong aftershocks were reported just minutes later. | Several strong aftershocks were reported just minutes later. |
Illapel Mayor Denis Cortes reported that one person was killed by a collapsing wall, and 15 other people were injured. | |
Some homes were reportedly damaged in the city. | |
"Tsunami waves reaching more than three metres above the tide level are possible along some coasts of Chile," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned. | |
The earthquake struck as thousands of Chileans have been travelling to the coast ahead of a week of celebrations of the national holidays, or Fiestas Patrias. | |
Tsunami alerts were also issued for Peru and Hawaii. | Tsunami alerts were also issued for Peru and Hawaii. |
The quake was also strongly felt in some Argentine provinces like Mendoza and in the capital Buenos Aires several buildings were evacuated, the BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes reports. | The quake was also strongly felt in some Argentine provinces like Mendoza and in the capital Buenos Aires several buildings were evacuated, the BBC's Ignacio de los Reyes reports. |
Chile is one of the most seismically active locations on the globe. | |
It runs along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. These are vast slabs of the Earth's surface that grind past each other at a rate of up to 80mm per year. | |
In February 2010, a 8.8-magnitude struck off central Chile, killing more than 500 people. |