Santiago: A major earthquake has struck off the coast of Chile, triggering a tsunami, causing landslides that blocked highways and leading to at least five deaths.
The earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck at 8.46pm local time, and triggered a tsunami that hit the northern part of the country. The government evacuated Chile’s northern coast and a tsunami warning was issued for the Pacific coast of Mexico through Central and South America.
Blackouts, telephone outages and highway damage were reported in northern Chile, the government said late on Tuesday. Officials said the dead included people who were crushed by collapsing walls or were killed by heart attacks.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake generated a large tsunami with the biggest wave reported at 2.3 metres. The Chilean Navy said the first big wave hit the coast within 45 minutes.
The US Geological Survey said the quake was shallow at 20.1 kilometres below the seabed and struck about 100 kilometres north-west of the mining port of Iquique near the Peruvian border. Tremors were felt as far inland as Bolivia, and the quake was followed by a weaker 6.2 magnitude aftershock, Agence France-Presse reported.
Iquique, a major port city of about 182,000 people, is at the edge of Chile’s copper mining Atacama desert region. The area has been on high alert in recent weeks after an unusual number of tremors.
The government said it had no reports of significant damage to coastal areas, but around 300 prisoners took advantage of the confusion and escaped from a jail in Iquique, Interior Minister Rodrigo Penailillo said.
In Peru, the southern coastal area was also put on alert while roads along the coast were closed, said the mayor of the capital, Susana Villaran.
“An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicentre within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. “An evaluation of the Pacific wide tsunami threat is under way and there is a possibility that Hawaii could be elevated to a watch or warning status,” it added.
Authorities in Peru started evacuating communities in the southern coastal region of Ica. Electricity was partially lost in the Peruvian cities of Tacna, Moquegua and Arequipa but there were no reports of deaths or serious damage.
Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and a large earthquake has long been expected in the north of the country. In February 2010, central and southern Chile were hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8-magnitude followed by a tsunami that devastated dozens of towns. The quake left more than 500 dead and caused $US30 billion in damage.
source: smh.com.au
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