8.2 Earthquake hits off the Coast of Chile: Triggers Tsunami warnings as far away as Hawaii

A powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake has just hit off the coast of Chile triggering Tsunami and evacuation warnings in Chile, Peru and Ecuador, with watches issued as far away as Hawaii.

The 8.2 Magnitude quake struck at a depth of 6.21 miles and was centered 49 miles west-northwest of Iquique, Chile, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  This Quake follows hundreds of smaller quakes that have rattled Chile’s far-northern coast over the last two weeks, which begun with a 6.7 quake on March 16. Since the initial March 16th quake, the area has experienced 60+ earthquakes of M4+, and 26 earthquakes of M5+.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the Tsunami alert this evening after the earthquake was recorded northwest of Iquique.

“Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin. “It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts.”

A 6.3 foot Tsunami was recorded at Pisagua, Chile, and 5.6 foot tsunami was recorded at Iquique, Chile. All of Latin America’s pacific coast countries are now under the tsunami warning. Authorities have ordered an evacuation of all coastal regions.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said they are monitoring any potential impact to the Pacific coastline of both British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and California. The “tsunami threat to Hawaii is still being evaluated.”

In 2010, Chile was hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8 magnitude quake followed by a tsunami that devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano. That Tsunami triggered waves that caused minor damage as far away as San Diego, California and in the Tōhoku region of Japan. The strongest earthquake ever recorded also happened in Chile – a magnitude-9.5 tremor in 1960 that killed more than 5,000 people.