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28 March 2024

Tsunami: Hawaii, Peru, Ecuador on alert

Published
By Reuters

LATEST: Five people are confirmed dead and three seriously injured, the governor of Iquique Gonzalo Prieto told local radio station Cooperativa.

The earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck triggered a tsunami that hit the northern part of the country.  

 

A military vehicle patrols after an earthquake in Iquique, Chile. (AP)

Hawaii under tsunami advisory; Peru and Ecuador on alert

A tsunami advisory has been issued for Hawaii due to a magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile, but no major damage is expected, US officials said.

"Based on all available data, a major tsunami is not expected to strike the state of Hawaii," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement.

"However, 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 harbors and marinas."

The initial wave from the earthquake off the coast of Chile is expected to reach Hawaii at 3:24 a.m. (9:24 a.m. ET/1324 GMT) local time on Wednesday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.  

In Peru, the southern coastal area was also put on alert, while in Lima roads along the coast were closed, said the mayor of the capital, Susana Villaran.

Meanwhile, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa said on Twitter, “Everyone along our coast should be alert and ready."
 


EARLIER STORY:

A major earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck off the coast of  Chile on Tuesday, triggering a tsunami that hit the northern part of the country, but the government said there was no serious damage and no reports of deaths.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was shallow at 12.5 miles (20.1 km) below the seabed and struck about 100 km northwest of the mining port of Iquique near the Peruvian border.

The Chilean navy said the first tsunami wave had hit the coast within 45 minutes of the quake. Authorities evacuated part of the coast and a tsunami warning was issued for all of South and Central America's Pacific coast.

Chile is the world's No. 1 copper producer but key mining firms said there was no serious damage to their operations.

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.

Chile's ONEMI emergency office said late on Tuesday that landslides were partially blocking some roads and highways, and local radio stations said power went out in Iquique, but the government said it had no reports of deaths or injuries.

Iquique is a key copper exporting port, close to Chile's main copper mines. State-owned miner Codelco reported no harm to its workers or mines, and said its operations in northern Chile were normal.

Mining company BHP Billiton said it had not  received reports of damage to mines.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that the coasts of  Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua were also at risk.

"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," it said.

Authorities in Peru started evacuating communities in the southern coastal region of Ica, RPP radio reported.