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| Tsunami alert after 8.2 quake strikes off Chile | Tsunami alert after 8.2 quake strikes off Chile |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| An earthquake of 8.2 magnitude has struck off northern Chile, triggering a tsunami alert for Latin America's Pacific coastline, the US Geological Survey says. | An earthquake of 8.2 magnitude has struck off northern Chile, triggering a tsunami alert for Latin America's Pacific coastline, the US Geological Survey says. |
| It said the quake was very shallow, only 10km below the seabed, striking 86km (56 miles) north-west of the mining area of Iquique. | It said the quake was very shallow, only 10km below the seabed, striking 86km (56 miles) north-west of the mining area of Iquique. |
| There are reports of waves hitting Pisagua, Patache and Iquique. | |
| Chilean authorities ordered the speedy evacuation of coastal areas. | |
| There are some reports of landslides hitting highways and Chilean TV has broadcast pictures of traffic jams as people tried to evacuate. | |
| The quake struck at 20:46 local time (23:46 GMT). | |
| The quake shook modern buildings in nearby Peru and in Bolivia's high altitude capital of La Paz - more than 470km (290 miles) from Iquique. | |
| At least eight strong aftershocks followed in the few hours after the quake, including a 6.2 tremor. Seismologists have warned that more aftershocks and an even bigger quake cannot be discounted. | |
| The Chilean interior ministry told the BBC that one of the main roads outside Iquique was cut off because of hillside debris. | |
| The ministry says that partial landslides have also taken place between the towns of Putre and General Lagos. | The ministry says that partial landslides have also taken place between the towns of Putre and General Lagos. |
| 'A big one' | 'A big one' |
| The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (TWC) said that a warning was in effect for Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama. | |
| It said that a tsunami watch - in which the danger of tidal waves is deemed to be less serious - was in place for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras. | |
| "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 TWC said. | |
| "Everyone along our coast should be alert and ready," Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said on Twitter. | "Everyone along our coast should be alert and ready," Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said on Twitter. |
| The Chilean navy said some high waves had hit the coast within 45 minutes of the quake. | The Chilean navy said some high waves had hit the coast within 45 minutes of the quake. |
| Some waves were reported at about 2m (6ft). | |
| "We have asked citizens to evacuate the entire coast... there is no serious damage to houses... there have been no people hurt," said Chilean home office minister Mahmud Aleuy. | "We have asked citizens to evacuate the entire coast... there is no serious damage to houses... there have been no people hurt," said Chilean home office minister Mahmud Aleuy. |
| A British expatriate near the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta told the BBC that there had been several tremors since the last quarter of last year. | A British expatriate near the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta told the BBC that there had been several tremors since the last quarter of last year. |
| "But this earthquake, even with the increased distance, seemed to last a lot longer," Patrick Moore said. | "But this earthquake, even with the increased distance, seemed to last a lot longer," Patrick Moore said. |
| "I was just sitting on my bed and normally these tremors using last at the very longest about 40 seconds - this one felt like it lasted about two minutes. | "I was just sitting on my bed and normally these tremors using last at the very longest about 40 seconds - this one felt like it lasted about two minutes. |
| "I knew it was bad so I immediately went online to see what had happened and saw a tsunami warning that's been put in place which confirmed my fears that it was a big one." | "I knew it was bad so I immediately went online to see what had happened and saw a tsunami warning that's been put in place which confirmed my fears that it was a big one." |
| Kurt Hertrampf, a hostel owner in Arica, told the BBC there was a big blackout in the town after the quake and he was surprised the telephone line was still working. He added: "Downtown looks like a ghost town." | |
| The area close to the epicentre is mineral rich, but none of the major copper companies reported any break in production. | |
| Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. | Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. |
| Central and southern areas of the country were hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8 magnitude quake followed by a tsunami that devastated scores of towns in February 2010. | Central and southern areas of the country were hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8 magnitude quake followed by a tsunami that devastated scores of towns in February 2010. |
| In 1960 an area of Chile south of Concepcion was hit by a 9.5 magnitude which caused about 1,655 deaths and a tsunami in Hawaii and Japan. | In 1960 an area of Chile south of Concepcion was hit by a 9.5 magnitude which caused about 1,655 deaths and a tsunami in Hawaii and Japan. |
| The 9.0 magnitude quake that struck Japan on 11 March 2011 caused a devastating tsunami and left more than 15,000 people dead, with more than 3,200 missing. | The 9.0 magnitude quake that struck Japan on 11 March 2011 caused a devastating tsunami and left more than 15,000 people dead, with more than 3,200 missing. |
| Are you affected by the earthquake? Are you in the region where a tsunami warning has been put in place? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'Chile' in the subject. | Are you affected by the earthquake? Are you in the region where a tsunami warning has been put in place? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'Chile' in the subject. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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