Strong quake shakes Chile capital, causing buildings to sway

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A powerful earthquake shook Chile’s capital Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets. Several strong aftershocks hits within minutes as tsunami alarms sounded in the port of Valparaiso and authorities issued a tsunami alert for the country’s entire coast.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 8.3. Chilean authorities recorded it as 7.2.

U.S. officials said the quake struck just offshore in the Pacific at 7:54 p.m. and was centered about 141 miles (228 kilometers) north-northwest of Santiago. It said the quake was 4.8 miles (5 kilometers) below the surface.

Chile’s emergency office warned that big waves caused by the quake could hit the coast by 11 p.m.

Hawaii is under a tsunami watch after an 8.3-magtidue earthquake off the coast of northern Chile. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the watch, saying a tsunami may have been generated by Wednesday’s earthquake. If there is a tsunami, the center estimates that the first wave would arrive about 3 a.m. Thursday. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency says officials are standing by, awaiting updates from the warning center. The powerful earthquake shook Chile’s capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets. There were no immediate reports on any injuries or damage.