Washington: Chilean authorities ordered coastal evacuations Sunday following a powerful Christmas Day earthquake offshore the south of the country that triggered tsunami alerts.
The quake registered 7.7 on the Moment Magnitude scale according to seismologists at the US Geological Survey. Chile's ONEMI national emergencies office ONEMI put it at 7.6.
The epicenter was on the southern part of Chiloe island, in a zone of several national parks.
"The earthquake hit us as we were having breakfast and we immediately ran out of the house because of fears of a tsunami," one man who took his family to high ground told Chilean television.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, though electricity was cut to some communities. Telephone and internet continued to work.
The quake struck as Chileans were were their families celebrating Christmas. All shops were closed.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, said in a bulletin that "hazardous tsunamic waves are forecast for some coasts."
Chile is in a quake-prone region, lying on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire of frequent seismic activity. As a result, buildings are usually built to resist swaying.
In 2010 another quake measuring 8.8, also followed by a tsunami, struck the center and south of the country, killing more than 500 people.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The quake registered 7.7 on the Moment Magnitude scale according to seismologists at the US Geological Survey. Chile's ONEMI national emergencies office ONEMI put it at 7.6.
The epicenter was on the southern part of Chiloe island, in a zone of several national parks.
"The earthquake hit us as we were having breakfast and we immediately ran out of the house because of fears of a tsunami," one man who took his family to high ground told Chilean television.
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There were no immediate reports of casualties, though electricity was cut to some communities. Telephone and internet continued to work.
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The quake struck as Chileans were were their families celebrating Christmas. All shops were closed.
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The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, said in a bulletin that "hazardous tsunamic waves are forecast for some coasts."
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Chile is in a quake-prone region, lying on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire of frequent seismic activity. As a result, buildings are usually built to resist swaying.
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In 2010 another quake measuring 8.8, also followed by a tsunami, struck the center and south of the country, killing more than 500 people.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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