14 DAY TRIAL // A massive 8.2 earthquake hit Chile on Tuesday night, leaving 5 dead and several seriously injured. The seism triggered a small tsunami, and authorities were forced to order evacuations along the country's entire Pacific coast.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter was about 62 miles (99.7 km) northwest of the mining port of Iquique, in northern Chile. More than 20 significant aftershocks followed, including one of 6.2-magnitude.
Officials report that the full extent of the damages caused by the powerful quake couldn't be assessed as of yet but mention that several roads were blocked by landslides, electricity went out for thousands of residents, an airport was damaged and several businesses caught fire.
In the city of Arica, the mayor reported that hospitals were treating patients with minor injuries and said that some homes were destroyed.
The tremor also shook modern buildings in Peru and was experienced in Bolivia's high altitude capital of La Paz, which is about 290 miles (470 kilometers) away, as the equivalent of a 4.5-magnitude quake.
CBC News informs that the casualties include people who were crushed to death by collapsing walls or suffered heart attacks after the terrible earthquake.
President Michelle Bachelet declared a state of emergency in the area and sent a military plane of special forces to prevent looting after 300 inmates escaped from an Iquique women's prison.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center informed people that tsunami alerts and watches remained in effect for the coasts of Peru and Chile. A tsunami warning was also issued for Hawaii, where the initial wave is expected to arrive at around 3:24 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
“An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours,” representatives of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
However, the center said that, based on all their data, a major tsunami was not expected to strike the state.
Experts explain that Chile is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world due to its location. Just off the coast, the Nazca tectonic plate plunges beneath the South American plate, pushing the towering Andes cordillera to ever-higher altitudes.
The last high magnitude quake that hit the country was recorded in 2010 in central Chile. It came with an 8.8 magnitude, killed more than 500 people and destroyed 220,000 homes. The strongest earthquake ever recorded on Earth also happened in Chile – it was a 9.5-magnitude seism that killed more than 5,000 people, in 1960.