A powerful earthquake has shaken Chile’s capital, causing buildings to sway, thousands to take refuge in the streets and sparking a tsunami watch alert across the Pacific ocean.
The US Geological Survey initially reported the quake at a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 but quickly revised the reading to 8.3.
US officials said the quake struck just offshore in the Pacific at 7:54 pm (6:54 pm EDT, 1154 GMT) and was centered about 141 miles (227km) north-west of S
The government has urged residents to evacuate the coastline although there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Chile’s state copper miner Codelco said it was evacuating its workers at its Ventanas division as a precaution after the quake.
Hazardous tsunami waves from the quake were possible along the coasts of Chile and Peru within the next several hours, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
A tsunami watch was issued for Hawaii. The centre said if tsunami waves impact Hawaii, the estimated earliest arrival time would be 2:28 am. Hawaii Standard Time (1228 GMT) on Thursday.
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency said state officials are standing by, awaiting updates from the warning center.
On the Big Island, officials were bracing to be the first island affected, county spokesman Ilihia Gionson said. Officials were gathered Wednesday in the county’s emergency operations center in Hilo, he said.
