Chile quake triggers mass evacuation and tsunami alert

 

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.
A tsunami alert originally issued for the entire Chilean coast has been partly lifted since. In the coastal town of Coquimbo, waves of up to 4.5m (15ft) in height hit the shore.

Panic

Gloria Navarro who lives in the coastal town of La Serena described how "people were running in all directions".

 

Image copyright AFP

Image caption People fled into the streets as the quake caused buildings to sway

 

Image copyright Reuters

Image caption Residents of the coastal city of Valparaiso knew to take to higher ground 

 

 

Image copyright AFP

Image caption In Concon, people tried to gather a few belongings before heading to safety

Maria Angelica Leiva from Navidad, also on the coast, described how she fled her home.
"It's been awful. We ran out of the house with our grandchildren and now we are on a hill hoping it will be over soon," she told Reuters news agency.
"It is all very dark, and we just hope the sea hasn't reached our house," she added.
Three people died of heart attacks and another two were crushed by falling rocks and masonry, officials said.
A local mayor reported a sixth victim, a 19-year-old who was crushed to death in the town of Monte Patria, although this has not been confirmed.
Officials said 1,800 people in Illapel were left without drinking water.
Electricity providers said hundreds of thousands of their clients in the worst-affected Coquimbo region had no power.

'Very afraid'

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the tremor struck off the coast of Coquimbo, 46km (29 miles) west of the city of Illapel at 19:54 local time (22:54 GMT).

The USGS said it was at a depth of 25km, while Chilean seismologists calculated its depth at 11km.
People in coastal areas sought shelter on higher ground while those in cities sought safety in the streets.
"The motion began lightly, then stronger and stronger," said Jeannette Matte, a resident of Santiago.
"We were on the 12th floor and we were very afraid because it was not stopping. First it was from side to side, then it was like little jumps."
The quake caused buildings to sway in cities as far away as the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Tsunami fears

The earthquake struck as thousands of Chileans were travelling to the coast ahead of a week of celebrations for independence day.

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Chileans are terrified of a repeat of the quake and subsequent tsunami which left more than 500 people dead in 2010 

 

 

Image copyright AFP

Image caption Many spent the night in the street as aftershocks continued to occur 

 

 

Image copyright AP

Image caption Some buildings were reportedly damaged, and debris was seen strewn on the streets

The authorities were quick to issue tsunami alerts keen to avert a repeat of the slow response to the 8.8-magnitude quake in 2010, which devastated large areas of the country.
More than 500 people died in the quake and the tsunami it triggered and memories of the tragedy are still raw.
Tsunami alerts were issued shortly after the quake struck for the entire Chilean coast as well as Peru, Hawaii, parts of California and as far away as New Zealand.
They remain in effect in some central areas, but have been lifted in those further away from the quake's epicentre.
President Michelle Bachelet said that "once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature".
The president will travel to the affected areas later on Thursday.
Chile is one of the most seismically active locations on the globe.
It runs along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. These are vast slabs of the Earth's surface that grind past each other at a rate of up to 80mm per year.

- BBC -