SANTIAGO, Chile — A major earthquake just offshore rattled Chileans, killing five people and shaking the Earth so strongly the tremor was felt in places across South America. Authorities worked into the early hours Thursday assessing damage in several coastal towns that saw flooding from small tsunami waves set off by the quake.
The magnitude-8.3 quake hit off northern Chile on Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for the Andean nation's entire Pacific coast. People sought safety in the streets of inland cities, while others along the shore took to their cars to get to higher ground.
"Once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature," President Michelle Bachelet said in an address to the nation late Wednesday.
Authorities said early Thursday that five people had been killed and one person was listed as missing.
QUICK FACTS:
- Tsunami of 15 feet reported on Chilean coast at 4:39 p.m. PST
- Officials report 5 dead, 1 person listed as missing
- U.S. officials posted a tsunami alert for Hawaii.
- Tsunami waves are possibly up to more than three meters along Chile's coast.
- Washington state monitoring
Numerous strong aftershocks, including one measuring 7.0 magnitude and three above 6, rattled the region after the first major tremor since a powerful quake and tsunami killed hundreds in 2010 and leveled part of the city of Concepcion in south-central Chile.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the quake at 3:54 p.m. PST with a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 but quickly revised the reading to 8.3.
Chile's emergency office warned that big waves caused by the quake could hit the coast, and evacuations were ordered. A tsunami of 15 feet was reported on the Chilean coast near Coquimbo at 4:39 p.m. Seattle time.
Officials ordered people to evacuate low-lying areas along the 2,400 miles (3,900 kilometers) of Chile's Pacific shore, from Puerto Aysen in the south to Arica in the north. Fishing boats headed out to sea and cars streamed inland carrying people to higher ground. Santiago's main airport was evacuated as a precaution
>> PHOTOS: Massive 8.3M earthquake hits off coast of Chile
Authorities said some adobe houses collapsed in the inland city of Illapel, about 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of Santiago. Illapel's mayor, Denis Cortes, told a local television station that a woman had been killed in the city but declined to give any details.
Tsunami waves up more than 3 meters is possible along Chile coast, threatening the Peru coast as well.
What's going on with Hawaii?
Hawaii is under a Tsunami Advisory. No major tsunami is expected for the state. However, sea level changes and strong currents may occur.
A tsunami watch was in effect for the state of Hawaii late Wednesday afternoon, meaning the threat of a tsunami was being investigated for the state.
At one point, one meter waves were possible for Hawaii.
What does this mean for Washintgon State, west coast?
People on the U.S. west coast were told be aware for a potential impact.
A Tsunami Advisory is in effect for coastal areas of California from San Onofre (45mi SE of Los Angeles) to Ragged Point (50mi NW of San Luis Obispo).
No tsunami alerts were issued for the coasts of Oregon and Washington as of 7 p.m.
Grays Harbor Co. Emergency Management monitored information.
What's earthquake and tsunami history in Chile?
A magnitude-8.8 quake and ensuing tsunami in south-central Chile in 2010 killed more than 500 people, destroyed 220,000 homes, and washed away docks, riverfronts and seaside resorts. That quake released so much energy, it actually it shortened the Earth's day by a fraction of a second by changing the planet's rotation.
The quake had huge ramifications, both political and practical, prompting the Andean nation to improve its alert systems for both quakes and tsunamis.
Chile is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because just off the coast, the Nazca tectonic plate plunges beneath the South American plate, pushing the towering Andes cordillera to ever-higher altitudes.
The strongest earthquake ever recorded on Earth happened in Chile - a magnitude-9.5 tremor in 1960 that killed more than 5,000 people.
The Associated Press contributed to this report