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| Chile earthquake sparks tsunami warning and evacuation of thousands | Chile earthquake sparks tsunami warning and evacuation of thousands |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An earthquake of magnitude 8.2 has jolted northern Chile, triggering a tsunami alert and the evacuation of thousands of people from coastal areas. At least five people were killed and more than 300 women escaped from a coastal prison. | |
| The quake was centred under the Pacific Ocean 61 miles north-west of the city of Iquique and struck at | The quake was centred under the Pacific Ocean 61 miles north-west of the city of Iquique and struck at |
| 8.46pm as thousands of residents were arriving home from work. | 8.46pm as thousands of residents were arriving home from work. |
| As sirens blared and emergency warnings urged | As sirens blared and emergency warnings urged |
| residents to evacuate by foot to higher ground, in coastal cities | |
| traffic jams ensued as panicked residents sought to escape the coast. The first | traffic jams ensued as panicked residents sought to escape the coast. The first |
| tsunami surge measured 2.5 metres (8.2ft) and flooded low-lying areas of | tsunami surge measured 2.5 metres (8.2ft) and flooded low-lying areas of |
| Iquique including a medical clinic and bus terminal. | |
| While thousands of residents sought refuge in the hills, an | While thousands of residents sought refuge in the hills, an |
| ad-hoc security force of police and members of the Chilean armed forces | ad-hoc security force of police and members of the Chilean armed forces |
| searched Iquique for the estimated 329 female prisoners thought to have escaped. Initial reports from Chilean investigative | searched Iquique for the estimated 329 female prisoners thought to have escaped. Initial reports from Chilean investigative |
| police said 16 prisoners had been apprehended. Firefighters, | |
| meanwhile, battled a huge blaze in central Iquique and the lack of water and | |
| electricity added to a sense of chaos. | electricity added to a sense of chaos. |
| In Santiago, a contingent of special forces police boarded a | |
| Hercules transport plane and were flown north to provide reinforcements and help prevent | Hercules transport plane and were flown north to provide reinforcements and help prevent |
| looting. In Iquique, police took control of service stations and provided perimeter | |
| security for supermarkets. Government officials said attempts to loot stores | security for supermarkets. Government officials said attempts to loot stores |
| and abandoned homes in Iquique were rebuffed by police. | and abandoned homes in Iquique were rebuffed by police. |
| Reports of damage to infrastructure and homes began | Reports of damage to infrastructure and homes began |
| filtering in during the early hours of Wednesday. Several | filtering in during the early hours of Wednesday. Several |
| highways were reportedly blocked by rockslides and the airport control tower in | highways were reportedly blocked by rockslides and the airport control tower in |
| Iquique had been damaged. | Iquique had been damaged. |
| Strong aftershocks shook northern Chile every few minutes | Strong aftershocks shook northern Chile every few minutes |
| throughout early Wednesday, some measuring above magnitude six. | throughout early Wednesday, some measuring above magnitude six. |
| Earthquake experts at the Universidad de Chile predicted the aftershocks | Earthquake experts at the Universidad de Chile predicted the aftershocks |
| would continue for months. | would continue for months. |
| The Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, called on residents to | The Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, called on residents to |
| maintain calm and said a full damage estimate would be made at daybreak. Bachelet | maintain calm and said a full damage estimate would be made at daybreak. Bachelet |
| immediately announced a visit to northern Chile and confirmed that Brazil, Peru | immediately announced a visit to northern Chile and confirmed that Brazil, Peru |
| and Argentina had offered material support. | and Argentina had offered material support. |
| Bachelet, who took office in mid-March, sought to | Bachelet, who took office in mid-March, sought to |
| avoid a repeat of her widely criticised reaction to a deadly earthquake during a previous stint as president. An 8.8 earthquake off the | avoid a repeat of her widely criticised reaction to a deadly earthquake during a previous stint as president. An 8.8 earthquake off the |
| coast of Chile on 27 February 2010 killed an estimated 500 Chileans and caused | coast of Chile on 27 February 2010 killed an estimated 500 Chileans and caused |
| a massive tsunami that government officials had told coastal residents would not happen. | a massive tsunami that government officials had told coastal residents would not happen. |
| When the huge wave hit – measuring up to 60ft high – it destroyed large swaths of the Chilean coastline and | |
| blemished Bachelet’s previously stellar reputation. | blemished Bachelet’s previously stellar reputation. |
| Over the past four years, the Chilean government has repeatedly held tsunami practice | |
| drills and earthquake of magnitude 6.7 on 16 March prompted | |
| the evacuation of more than 100,000 people in Iquique. Dozens of small tremors in recent weeks have kept northern Chile residents on edge. | the evacuation of more than 100,000 people in Iquique. Dozens of small tremors in recent weeks have kept northern Chile residents on edge. |
| Given that three of the 10 largest earthquakes ever | Given that three of the 10 largest earthquakes ever |
| recorded have been in Chile, the populace is long accustomed to earthquake | recorded have been in Chile, the populace is long accustomed to earthquake |
| survival protocols. Building standards in Chile require multiple storey | survival protocols. Building standards in Chile require multiple storey |
| buildings to be capable of withstanding a 9.0 earthquake, though in rural areas many | buildings to be capable of withstanding a 9.0 earthquake, though in rural areas many |
| older buildings – often made of adobe – are prone to sudden and often deadly | older buildings – often made of adobe – are prone to sudden and often deadly |
| collapse. | collapse. |