Tsunami Sparked After Huge Chile Earthquake

by Guest Wed Apr 02, 2014 1:39 am

A tsunami has been triggered after a magnitude-8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said "readings indicate a tsunami was generated", with waves measured between 5.6ft and 6.3ft.

Chile has requested the "preventative evacuation" of the country's northern coastline, the country's ONEMI emergency office said on its website.

The huge tremor, which occurred at 6.46pm local time on Tuesday, has put all of Latin America's Pacific Coast on tsunami alert.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the PTWC said.

The quake hit 62 miles (99km) northwest of the mining town of Iquique.

It happened just 6.2 miles (10 km) below the seabed - making it feel even more powerful.

The tremor shook buildings in parts of the nearby nations of Bolivia and Peru but there are no reported injuries so far.

The area has been rocked by several quakes in the last two weeks.

More follows...

http://news.sky.com/story/1235594/tsunami-sparked-after-huge-chile-earthquake

That's a big earthquake!