Tsunami warning after 8.2 quake strikes off Chile
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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26846984
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26846984
People are driving away from the Chilean coast after an evacuation order
An
earthquake of 8.2 magnitude has struck off northern Chile, triggering a
tsunami warning for all of Latin America's Pacific coastline, the US
Geological Survey says.
There are reports of 2m (6ft) waves heading for the Chilean coastline.
Chilean authorities have ordered the speedy evacuation of coastal areas.
There are some reports of landslides hitting highways.
A warning from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (TWC) said that the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua were all at risk of a tsunami.
People take refuge in the Chilean coastal city of Antofagasta
The Chilean navy said some high waves had hit the coast within 45 minutes of the quake.
"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," a TWC statement said.
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.
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