Chile hit by tsunami Tuesday April 01,2014

A powerful earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale struck off northern Chile on Tuesday night April 01,2014, setting off a tsunami that forced evacuations along the country's entire Pacific coast and much of Latin America.

Quake struck at 8.46pm (11.46GMT) on Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean.The earthquake struck near the coastal city of Iquique, in the northern region of Chile at around 8.26pm local time

Lengthy queues of traffic quickly formed as families headed inland, while others in Iquique took refuge in the city's stadium. 
Some roads in northern Chile were blocked by landslides, only exacerbating the jams among people leaving the coast. But coastal residents remained calm as they head inland while waves measuring almost 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) struck their cities.

Chile's interior minister has confirmed five people are dead after the earthquake, which struck at 8.46pm local time and several others are seriously injured. 

Officials said the dead included people who were crushed by collapsing walls or were killed by heart attacks.

About 300 inmates escaped from a women's prison in the city of Iquique, as landslides blocked roads, power failed for thousands, an airport was damaged and several businesses caught fire

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire on a restaurant by the sea shore after a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit off Chile's Pacific coast in Iquique. A tsunami warning has been issued for Chile, Peru and Ecuador

A group of people evacuates towards a high zone due to a Tsunami alert after an 8.2 Richter scale earthquake in Valaparaiso, Chile

Thousands pour into the streets after tremors rocked their homes in the port city of Antofagasta

Locals gather on the street following a tsunami alert after a powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit off Chile's Pacific coast, on April 1, 2014 in Antofagasta

People in the Chilean town of Iquique prepared to flee their homes after an earthquake off the coast led to tsunami warnings across Latin America

 Local people take refuge inside Iquique's city stadium after fleeing their homes

Families in Antofagasta sit in the street after being told to leave their homes

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (centre) declared 'emergency zone' in the regions of Arica and Parinacota in the northern part of the country

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake generated a large tsunami with the biggest wave reported at 2.3 meters. 

WHY THE CHILEAN COAST IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO EARTHQUAKES

The largest earthquake recorded in modern times hit off the coast of Chile on May 22, 1960, and had a magnitude of 9.5

It killed around 1,655 people, injured 3,000, left 2million homeless and caused half a billion dollars worth of damage.

Tsunami waves reached heights of 38ft (11.5m) and carried the remains of shattered homes as far as two miles inland.

The earthquake was thought to have triggered an eruption two days later of Volcan Puyehue, which raged for several weeks sending steam and ash four miles into the air.

A magnitude-8.8 quake and ensuing tsunami in central Chile in 2010 killed more than 500 people, destroyed 220,000 homes, and washed away docks, riverfronts and seaside resorts.

The region is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes as it sits on the boundary between the Nazca plate and South America plate in the earth’s crust.