8.2 quake off Chile coast sparks tsunami
A major earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck off the coast of Chile Tuesday, leading to five deaths and triggering a tsunami that pounded the country's northern coast with 2-meter-tall waves.
Officials said the dead included people who were crushed by collapsing walls or were killed by heart attacks, Reuters reports. The government has already evacuated Chile's northern coast.
Meanwhile, President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of emergency in the region and sent a military plane with 100 anti-riot police to join 300 soldiers deployed to prevent looting and round up escaped prisoners, reports AP.
Lauding Chile's initial response to the quake, Bachelet said in a televised address: "The government will work for as long as necessary to confront this emergency."
RT @STForeignDesk:
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warns that a #tsunami could reach Japanese coast early Thursday morning, following massive
href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23quake&src=hash">#quake
near #Chile
— The Straits Times (@STcom)
href="https://twitter.com/STcom/statuses/451258889086836736">April 2, 2014
The US Geological Survey said the quake was shallow at 12.5 miles below the seabed and struck about 100 km northwest of the mining port of Iquique near the Peruvian border.
Mining in the world's No 1 copper producer did not appear significantly interrupted, but about 300 prisoners took advantage of the emergency and escaped from a female penitentiary in Iquique.
Powerful earthquake triggers tsunami off coast of Chile
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— The Independent (@Independent)
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About 26 of the women were soon recaptured, authorities said, while security forces fanned out through the area amid reports of power outages.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake generated a large tsunami with the biggest wave reported at about 2 meters. The Chilean navy said the first big wave hit the coast within 45 minutes.
Iquique is a key port, close to Chile's main copper mines. The area has been on high alert in recent weeks after an unusual number of tremors. The port city is over 1,500 km north of capital Santiago, where the quake was not felt.
In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude quake triggered a tsunami that devastated several coastal towns in central-south Chile, a disaster that killed 526 people.
A quake of 8.2 magnitude has struck off northern Chile, triggering a tsunami
alert and killing at least five people. pic.twitter.com/UJkXtZybNg
— BBC
Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) April 2,
2014
State-owned miner Codelco and other major copper companies reported no harm to workers or mines, saying that operations in northern Chile were normal. Still, the massive Collahuasi mine evacuated workers so they could be with their families.
A tsunami warning was issued for the Pacific coast of Mexico through Central and South America.
Death toll rises to 5 in powerful Chile earthquake:
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— Yahoo News (@YahooNews)
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"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.
A tsunami advisory was issued for Hawaii, although no disaster was expected to hit the island state.
"Almost the whole city is in darkness." UPDATES on earthquake near
Chile>> http://t.co/vOzUad51jv
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— KOIN News (@KOINNews)
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"Sea level changes and strong currents may occur along all coasts that could be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as to persons near the shore at beaches and in harbours and marinas," the warning centre said.
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 there.
No immediate reports of serious damage, injuries after 8.2
href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Chile&src=hash">#Chile
quake & tsunami - officials
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— RT America (@RT_America)
href="https://twitter.com/RT_America/statuses/451172312629268480">April 2, 2014
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