Chile lifts its tsunami warning after powerful earthquake - CBBC Newsround. Chile has lifted a tsunami warning, which was put out after an earthquake struck five miles off its coast.
The country in South America has had to move over one million residents along its coastline, following the powerful earthquake that caused buildings to sway. The quake, with a magnitude of 8.3, struck around 144 miles north-west of the capital Santiago. It immediately triggered tsunami waves of up to 4.5 metres in some places. But this warning has now been lifted as there is no longer a risk. Five people have died and at least one person has been reported missing, officials say. Image copyright AFP The tremor struck at 10.54pm (British time) on Wednesday night, the US Geological Survey said. Addressing the nation live on TV, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said she would travel to the affected areas later on Thursday. Tsunami alerts were also issued for Peru, Hawaii, parts of California and as far away as New Zealand.
Image copyright AP. Chile quake: State of emergency declared for Coquimbo. Chile's government has declared a state of emergency in a central region struck by a powerful earthquake.
One million people had to leave their homes and at least 11 people died when the 8.3-magnitude quake hit on Wednesday night. In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of 4.7m (15ft) hit the shore. Small tsunami waves hit as far away as Alaska. President Michelle Bachelet visited Coquimbo on Thursday. Tsunami waves also hit the coast further north and south of the quake's epicentre, with waves half a metre higher than usual as far north as La Punta. The quake - the strongest in the world this year - lasted for more than three minutes and there were dozens of aftershocks. Gloria Navarro, who lives in the coastal town of La Serena, said people were "running in all directions".
"Everything is a mess," restaurant owner Melisa Pinones told Reuters from the city of Illapel. Image copyright AP Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Close to 90,000 homes remain without electricity. Tsunami witness: I saw the sea start to rise. There was terror and anguish. I was at home in Los Vilos with my three children when the house started to shake at 7.55pm.
The earthquake was very strong and it lasted for an unusually long time – around three minutes. It was longer than any earthquake we had felt before, including the 2010 earthquake. Out of my window I saw the sea start to rise extremely quickly and come crashing in about two metres high into the coastline. It didn’t come in far but the force of the wave was enough to destroy the houses that are at sea level. We had always been told that tsunami waves take a number of minutes to arrive and in this case it was different - the sea rose immediately. Since the 2010 earthquake, our family, like all residents of coastal areas in Chile, have had an earthquake plan. And then we evacuated the house on foot to the community’s designated secure zone – a hill less than a kilometre from the town that’s about 20 metres above sea level. It is very quiet now. Strong Chile earthquake sets off tsunami waves. One million people have been evacuated in Chile after a powerful earthquake hit the country's central region.
At least five people died when the 8.3-magnitude quake hit. Residents of Illapel, near the quake's epicentre, fled into the streets in terror as their homes began to sway. In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of 4.5m (15ft) hit the shore. Chile lives with quake expectation. Image copyright AFP Chile is one of those countries that expects to experience large quakes.
Tuesday's magnitude 8.2 tremor struck at 18:46 local time (23:46 GMT), at a depth of about 20km. This put the epicentre offshore. 'Five dead' after strong earthquake in Chile. Shoppers terrified as supermarket shaken by Chile earthquake – video. Chile earthquake: one million people evacuated after 8.3 magnitude quake – rolling report. Western Pacific braces for possible tsunami after Chile earthquake. Chile lifted its tsunami warning on Thursday and Pacific islands experienced only minor waves, hours after a 8.3 magnitude earthquake had led to fears of massive swells.
“The tsunami warning is lifted for all national territory,” the Chilean government’s national emergency office said in a tweet. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had issued a threat message saying saying hazardous tsunami waves were forecast for some coasts. “Tsunami waves have been observed,” it said in the latests update on Thursday. The PTWC said the first waves were arriving on the eastern town of Rikitea, on Mangareva island in French Polynesia, but they were only 28 centimetres high.
It was the early hours of the morning in Rikitea, meaning few people would be on the beaches. Much of the nation’s population lives in low-lying coastal areas at risk of flooding and there were concerns waves could rise to between one and three metres. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.