MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN CHILE Tsunami warnings for California, Hawaii, New Zealand

Posted on 09/17/2015 | About Chile

A magnitude-8.3 earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile shortly before 8 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) on Wednesday and multiple aftershocks have also been reported, according to the US Geological Survey. The Chilean government said at least six people have died as a result of the earthquake and about one million Chileans have been evacuated due to tsunami warnings issued for the region.  
Tsunami advisories have been issued for Hawaii and parts of Southern California, the US National Weather Service said. New Zealand issued a tsunami warning, the country's Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management reported. Tsunami waves as high as 15.3 feet have been measured near the port city of Coquimbo, and along some coasts of Chile, tsunami waves of more than 9 feet in height can be expected. A 5.8-foot wave was reported in Valparaiso. Tsunami waves up to 0.3 meters are expected to make it all the way to China, the US warning center forecast.

Landslides and building damage were reported in Coquimbo and Canela, according to Chilean Deputy Interior Minister Mahmud Aleuy Peña y Lillo and local government officials. The temblor occurred at 7:54 p.m. local time, Wednesday, 34 miles west of Illapel, Chile, and 144 miles northwest of Santiago, Chile's capital. It occurred as the result of thrust faulting on the interface between the Nazca and South America plates in central Chile, the US Geological Survey said.