A major earthquake just offshore rattled Chileans, killing five
people and shaking the Earth so strongly the tremor was felt in places
across South America. Authorities worked into the early hours Thursday
assessing damage in several coastal towns that saw flooding from small
tsunami waves set off by the quake.
The magnitude-8.3 quake hit off northern Chile on Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the Andean nation's entire Pacific coast. People sought safety in the streets of inland cities, while others along the shore took to their cars to get to higher ground.
Numerous aftershocks, including one at magnitude-7 and four above 6, shook the region after the initial earthquake — the strongest tremor since a powerful quake and tsunami killed hundreds in 2010 and leveled part of the city of Concepcion in south-central Chile.
In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of 4.7m (15ft) hit the shore. Small tsunami waves hit as far away as Alaska.
President Michelle Bachelet visited Coquimbo on Thursday.
Tsunami waves also hit the coast further north and south of the quake's epicentre, with waves half a metre higher than usual as far north as La Punta.
The quake - the strongest in the world this year - lasted for more than three minutes and there were dozens of aftershocks.
The magnitude-8.3 quake hit off northern Chile on Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the Andean nation's entire Pacific coast. People sought safety in the streets of inland cities, while others along the shore took to their cars to get to higher ground.
Numerous aftershocks, including one at magnitude-7 and four above 6, shook the region after the initial earthquake — the strongest tremor since a powerful quake and tsunami killed hundreds in 2010 and leveled part of the city of Concepcion in south-central Chile.
Chile's government has declared a state of emergency in a central region struck by a powerful earthquake.
One million people had to leave their homes and at least 11 people died when the 8.3-magnitude quake hit on Wednesday night.In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of 4.7m (15ft) hit the shore. Small tsunami waves hit as far away as Alaska.
President Michelle Bachelet visited Coquimbo on Thursday.
Tsunami waves also hit the coast further north and south of the quake's epicentre, with waves half a metre higher than usual as far north as La Punta.
The quake - the strongest in the world this year - lasted for more than three minutes and there were dozens of aftershocks.
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