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Tsunami alert for Hawaii after powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake hits Chile

Tsunami alert for Hawaii after powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake hits Chile

  • Tsunami warning issued for Hawaii after 8.3 magnitude earthquake in Chile
  • Waves could hit the islands shortly after 3am local time (9am EST) 
  • Quake caused buildings to sway in Santiago but no reports of injuries yet 

PUBLISHED: 00:34 GMT, 17 September 2015 | UPDATED: 00:58 GMT, 17 September 2015
Hawaii is on alert after a tsunami warning was issued following a powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck Chile.
The huge earthquake made buildings sway in Chile's capital Santiago, where terrified residents were seen gathering in streets to avoid falling debris. 
If there is a tsunami, waves are expected to hit Hawaii shortly after 3am local time (9am EST) Thursday.
The huge earthquake made buildings sway in Chile's capital Santiago, where terrified residents were seen gathering in streets to avoid falling debris
The huge earthquake made buildings sway in Chile's capital Santiago, where terrified residents were seen gathering in streets to avoid falling debris
The powerful earthquake shook Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets
The powerful earthquake shook Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets
People were seen standing on coastal hills in Valparaiso, Chile, watching the water as they feared the worst
People were seen standing on coastal hills in Valparaiso, Chile, watching the water as they feared the worst
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued the watch for Hawaii.
The potential tsunami could hit Chile and Peru far sooner, with the Chilean government urging people to evacuate the coastline. 

PEOPLE WERE SEEN STANDING ON COASTAL HILLS NEAR THE EPICENTER, WATCHING THE WATER AS THEY FEARED THE WORST.

The powerful earthquake shook Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
Hawaii is on alert after a tsunami warning was issued following a powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck Chile (file picture)
Hawaii is on alert after a tsunami warning was issued following a powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck Chile (file picture)
Fear on the streets: The huge tremor struck off the coast of Chile at a depth of 15.5 miles, authorities said
Fear on the streets: The huge tremor struck off the coast of Chile at a depth of 15.5 miles, authorities said
There were no immediate reports on any injuries in Chile, where the powerful earthquake struck this evening
There were no immediate reports on any injuries in Chile, where the powerful earthquake struck this evening
Pictures shared on Twitter in the immediate aftermath of the quake showed collapsed ceilings and toppled shelves in supermarkets. 
The huge tremor struck off the coast of Chile at a depth of 15.5 miles, authorities said, with the earthquake heard felt as far away as Buenos Aires, Argentina. 
Less than an hour after the initial earthquake, three aftershocks all greater than magnitudes 6.1 struck the region, the US Geological Survey said.

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