At least two people are confirmed dead after a <br />major earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck off Chili’s north west coast triggering a Tsunami alert for all of South and Central America’s Pacific coastline.<br /><br />The authorities immediately ordered an evacuation of all coastal areas telling people to get to higher ground or to reception centres.<br /><br />The quake was very shallow, only 20 km below the seabed, and struck less than 100 km northwest of the mining port of Iquique, near the Peruvian border.<br /><br />According to experts the quake’s strength has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours.<br /><br />The Chilean navy reported the first tsunami wave hit the coast within 45 minutes of the quake. It measured just under two metres.<br /><br />The evacuation was partially hampered by landslides which are said to have blocked some roads.Airports in the area have been closed <br /><br />However the authorities have reported no extensive structural damage.<br /><br />Alerts have gone out for the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.<br /><br /> he last major earthquake to strike Chili was in 2010. It was 8.8 in magnitude and triggered a tsunami that caused major damage in several coastal towns and killed over 500 people.
