Powerful quake hits Chile, sparks 2-metre tsunami

Locals take refuge at the city stadium following a tsunami alert after a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit off Chile's Pacific coast, on April 1, 2014 in Iquique. (AFP/ALDO SOLIMANO)

SANTIAGO: A powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake that struck off Chile's Pacific coast on Tuesday generated waves of up to 2.11 metres (6.9 feet), US officials said.

Chile, Ecuador and Peru all issued tsunami alerts after the quake, as did the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which said large waves had been triggered off Chile's coast.

The quake struck at 8:46 pm local time (2346 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), 83 kilometres from Iquique on Chile's northern coast, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. 

The Chilean navy said the first tsunami wave had hit the coast within 45 minutes of the quake.

There are initial reports that the earthquake has caused landslides which are partially blocking some roads and highways, said Chile's ONEMI emergency office.

Chilean authorities -- who registered the quake at 7.9 -- ordered people along its vast coast to flee for higher ground.

Ricardo Toro, of Chile's National Emergency Office (Onemi), said the first waves of the tsunami had reached Pisagua, on the northern coast, providing no more details. 

"Everyone along our coast should be alert and ready," Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said on Twitter.

In Peru, the southern coastal area was also put on alert, while in Lima roads along the coast were closed, said the mayor of the capital, Susana Villaran.

"This is a warning to all the precautionary measures to be taken by the population," Colbert Ruiz, a commander with the navy, told AFP.

"An alert means being on watch but does not confirm the arrival of a tsunami," he said. "So far, there is nothing."

The quake, which was also felt in Bolivia, was followed by aftershocks including one of 6.2-magnitude.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also issued a "watch" for Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

The centre said a tsunami warning could be issued for Hawaii. If tsunami waves reach Hawaii, they would strike at 3:24 am local time on Wednesday.

In its evaluation, it said: "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 tsunami "could potentially impact" Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NOAA said the tsunami watch has been expanded to include Mexico and Honduras.

There is no tsunami threat to Australia, according to the country's Bureau of Meteorology.

Chile, the world's number one copper producer, 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 $30 billion in damage to infrastructure.

The same coastal area has been the scene of numerous quakes in recent days.

On Sunday, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck, followed by at least two moderate aftershocks, USGS said.