Tsunami hits the northern coast of Chile. Looting started in cities
Situation is grave in the country as a tsunami wave hit the northern coast of Chile on Tuesday after a massive 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s shore. The quake occurred 95 km (59 miles) northwest of the mining area of Iquique near the Peruvian border. The epicenter was located at a shallow depth of about 20 km (12 miles) below the seabed. About 300 inmates escaped from a women’s prison in the city of Iquique and officials said Chile’s military was sending a planeload of special forces to guard against looting.
The Chilean navy said the first sign of the tsunami hitting the coast was within 45 minutes of the quake. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said a tsunami measuring almost two meters had been generated. Chile’s emergency ministry ONEMI said there have been reports of landslides causing some blockage on roads and highways.
The government reported five deaths and several serious injuries. Landslides blocked roads in some areas, power failed for thousands, an airport was damaged and several businesses caught fire. Thousands of people were spending the night sleeping rough in the hills and a tsunami advisory was issued for Hawaii out in the Pacific Ocean as waves fanned out from the epicentre. About 300 inmates escaped from a women’s prison in the city of Iquique and officials said Chile’s military was sending a planeload of special forces to guard against looting.
The US geological survey initially reported the quake at 8.0 but later upgraded the magnitude. It said the quake struck 61 miles (99km) north-west of the Chilean city of Iquique at 8.46pm, hitting a region that has been rocked by numerous quakes over the past two weeks.
The quake was so strong that Bolivia’s capital felt the equivalent of a 4.5 magnitude tremor despite the epicentre being about 290 miles away.
