By Mark Leberfinger, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer
April 1,2014; 9:01PM,EDT
The quake, which was at a depth of 6 miles and initially rated as a magnitude-8.0, occurred at 4:47 p.m. PDT, according to the United States Geological Survey. Three strong aftershocks, magnitudes 6.2, 5.8 and 5.5, respectively, have been reported since the major quake.
The Chilean earthquake was detected on a seismograph in the Woolly Hollow State Park in central Arkansas. (Photo/Arkansas Seismic Network, Arkansas Geological Survey)
The 8.2 quake was the result of a megathrust between the Nacza and South America plates near the Chilean coast, the USGS said on its website.
Chilean officials ordered a coastline evacuation as a result of the quake, The Associated Press reported.
Tsunami heights as high as 7.6 feet were reported at Pisagua, Chile, the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NWTC) said.
The quake caused tsunami warnings to be issued for Chile, Ecuador, Panama and Peru. Tsunami watches were issued for Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, the U.S. center said.
However, at 7:35 PDT the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center canceled all tsunami watches and warnings except for those issued for Chile and Peru.
The threat of a tsunami for Hawaii is still being investigated with the earliest estimated arrival time of 3:24 a.m. HST Wednesday.
A wave up to two-thirds of 1 foot was expected along the California coast, and a wave about a half foot was anticipated on the Washington coast.
U.S. officials were analyzing the possible tsunami threat to Hawaii and the West Coast. This is a energy map showing the forecast of tsunami waves throughout the Pacific Basin. (Photo/NOAA National Tsunami Warning Center)
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage by the quake which could be felt in Bolivia and Peru, The AP reported.
A March 16 earthquake in the same region registered a magnitude-6.7, according to the USGS. More than 60 quakes greater than magnitude-4 and 26 magnitude-5 quakes have occurred since, including three magnitude-6.2 quakes.
Major earthquakes are not uncommon in Chile.
An 8.8-magnitude quake rocked Chile in February 2010 offshore 200 miles from Santiago, the nation's capital. The world's largest earthquake, a magnitude-9.5, also struck the country in May 1960,
A buoy, belonging to the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy, off the coast of northern Chile detected the magnitude-8.0 earthquake Tuesday, April 1, 2014, which shows the water column height before and after the quake. (Photo/NOAA National Data Buoy Center)
On Social Media
Carolyn Mackenzie
carolynglobal
8.2 magnitude quake hits off coast of Chile, council votes on Porter jet issue & April fools day in full effect @globalnewsto now !
⚠️
UFOTaylor
7.7
earthquake just hit Chile, creating a tsunami. Haiti's quake was 7.3.
We as humans have a lot of supporting to do in the days ahead.
1h
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