Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declared a catastrophe zoan in coastal cities of Chile after a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Santiago, the country’s capital on September 16.

Residents of seaside towns in Chile are being evacuated to higher ground. A sea level monitoring facility in Coquimbo, Chile, registered waves over four meters high at about 1:00 am local time on Sept. 17:

Coastlines on both sides of the Pacific were braced for tsunamis after the quake sent powerful waves, over four meters in height, flooding into cities. A million people evacuated their homes after warnings were sounded and the first figures concerning five dead and 20 injured were released. These figures increased as the phone network was re-established.

The first tsunami hit the coastal city of Tongoy in Chile, just 25 minutes after the earthquake, at 8.20 p.m. local time. Concon, a popular tourist destination, was also deluged by waves.

Fears have been sparked that tsunamis could surge across the Pacific Ocean to countries as far away as Japan, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States. A tsunami advisory has been issued for Hawaii and southern California.

The quake came in Chile, just ahead of celebrations planed for Chile’s Independence Day (September 18) with activities planned throughout the country.

CNN Chile: