PTWC: Tsunami Warning Hawaii, Chile and Peru

PTWC: Tsunami Warning Hawaii, Chile and Peru – An earthquake with a preliminary 8.3 on Richter scale hit near the central Chilean city of Concepcion early Saturday, the United States Geological Survey said.

At least 5 people were killed due to the strong tremor, Chilean media quoted President Michelle Bachelet as saying.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a tsunami warning for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch for Ecuador.

The quake struck about 115 kilometers north-northeast of Concepcion around 3:34 a.m. with the epicenter estimated at 35 kilometers underground, the USGS said.

Reuters news agency reported witnesses in Santiago felt very strong tremors for 10 to 30 seconds and there were power outages in some parts of the city.

The Associated Press reported buildings shook and collapsed in Santiago.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a 1.3-meter high tsunami was observed in Valparaiso while CNN said on its website that a 2.7-meter tsunami had been observed.

In Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said it is investigating the possibility of a tsunami reaching Japan and that it had also detected a 1.3-meter tsunami in Valparaiso.

In May 1960, a tsunami struck the coasts of Hokkaido and the Sanriku region after an earthquake in Chile, leaving around 140 people dead or missing.

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters that he had instructed relevant officials to gather information on the circumstances in the affected area and to prepare aid if necessary.