Tsunami alert for Hawaii and California after powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake hits Chile, killing at least eight, forcing one million to flee

• Tsunami could hit Hawaii just after 3am local time (9am EST), experts warn, as evacuations take place along coast 
• San Onofre beach in California may also be in the tsunami's path - although the waves are likely to be less than 1ft
• Powerful 15ft waves have already flooded towns in Chile after the 8.3 magnitude earthquake off the west coast
• Eight are dead, including two women, aged 20 and 35, and a man in his 80s. At least 20 others are thought injured
• Violent aftershocks continued shaking the country on Thursday morning as residents picked through rubble

By Ollie Gillman and Khaleda Rahman For Dailymail.com

Published: 19:34 EST, 16 September 2015 | Updated: 12:06 EST, 17 September 2015

Hawaii and California are on alert after a tsunami warning was issued following a powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake in Chile that forced more than a million people to flee their homes.

The quake, the strongest in the world this year, made buildings sway in Chilean capital Santiago, where terrified residents were seen gathering in the streets to avoid falling debris.

Eight people were killed and powerful waves struck the Chilean shore, flooding towns as people fled to higher ground.

Violent aftershocks continued shaking the South American country on Thursday morning as residents picked through the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The Chilean government confirmed the death of eight people, including a 20-year-old woman who was crushed by falling rocks. At least 20 more people have been injured.

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Powerful: The quake made buildings sway in Chile's capital Santiago, where terrified residents gathered on streets to avoid falling debris

Flooding: The first tsunami waves crash against the shore in Chile, with residents urged to flee to higher ground by the authorities

Aftermath: The coastal town of Coquimbo (pictured) was hit by waves of up to 15 feet after the earthquake, Chile's navy said

Afraid: Aftershocks continued to shake the country and locals fear another big quake, but the government has lifted its tsunami warning

Powerful waves: Ships are seen in the street after an earthquake hit areas of central Chile, in Coquimbo city, north of Santiago

Flooded: The damage caused by the earthquake, the strongest in the world this year, in Con Con, close to the town of Valparaiso, Chile

Locals said they feared another big quake, although the government has lifted its tsunami warning.

Restaurant owner Melisa Pinones in Illapel, near the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake, said: ‘Everything is a mess. It was a disaster, a total loss. Bottles and glasses shattered and the pipes in the bathroom and kitchen burst.’

The quake's epicenter was about 34 miles west of Illapel. It struck around 7.54pm (6.54pm ET) and had a depth of 20.5 miles, according to a report by the US Geological Survey. It was felt as far away as Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Less than an hour after the initial earthquake, three aftershocks all greater than magnitude 6.1 struck the region.

Officials warned: 'Tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected.

'Currents may be hazardous to swimmers... boats... and coastal structures and may continue for many hours after the tsunami arrival. The first wave may not be the largest.'

If there is a tsunami, waves were expected to hit Hawaii shortly after 3am local time (9am EST) on Thursday – but they were generally expected to be small.

Ruined: Shops are seen after an earthquake hit areas of central Chile, in Coquimbo city, north of Santiago. Less than an hour after the initial earthquake, three aftershocks all greater than magnitude 6.1 struck the region

Wrecked: An aerial shot shows the damage caused by strong waves due to the magnitude 8.4 Richter scale earthquake in the village of Los Vilos, some 200 kilometers north of Santiago 

Panic: Police patrol a debris-strewn street in Valparaiso, Chile, after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused chaos in the town

Devastation: The roof of a shop is pictured on the ground after it was dislodged by waves in the town of Concon, Chile

Waiting for the waves: People were seen standing on coastal hills in Valparaiso, Chile, watching the water as they feared the worst

Destroyed: A man holds onto a rope as he wades through water in Concon in an attempt to recover belongings damaged by the tsunami

On Wednesday, authorities began ordering evacuations along the coast, including parts of Honolulu.

An alert was also issued for San Onofre beach in California, although the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said waves were unlikely to be higher than a foot.'

Pictures posted on Twitter show a tsunami hitting the coast of Chile, with waves sweeping through streets.

It was the sixth most powerful quake in the history of geologically volatile Chile and the biggest to hit the country since 2010. More than 135,000 families were left without power in the north-central coast area, the National Emergency Office reported, while Central Choapa province, which is closest to the epicenter, was declared a catastrophe zone has been placed under military rule.

Officials ordered people to evacuate low-lying areas along the 2,400 miles of Chile's Pacific shore, from Puerto Aysen in the south to Arica in the north.

Fishing boats headed out to sea and cars streamed inland carrying people to higher ground. Santiago's main airport was evacuated as a precaution.

People were seen standing on coastal hills near the epicenter, watching the water as they feared the worst. However, the country's tsunami warning has now been cancelled.

Damage: A collapsed structure is seen in Concon, around 110 km northwest of Santiago. Wednesday's quake was the sixth most powerful in the history of geologically volatile country

Nowhere to go: Chileans stand around a fire on a road after being evacuated from their homes following the earthquake, in Illapel, Chile

Homeless: A woman recovers items from her destroyed house after the earthquake in Coquimbo.The coastal town of Coquimbo was hit by waves of up to 15 feet

Deserted: An abandoned car sits in the middle of a flooded street Damages in Concon, some 110 km northwest of Santiago, Chile

Searching: A man wades through a flooded street littered with debris in Concon. More than 135,000 families were left without power in the north-central coast area

Danger: Evacuations were ordered in Hawaii, where a tsunami could hit shortly after 3am local time (9AM EST) on Thursday

New Zealand - 6,000 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake - was also bracing itself to be hit by the tsunami.

The powerful earthquake shook Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets.

The Chilean government later confirmed that eight people were killed, included a 35-year-old woman who was killed by a falling roof, a 20-year-old woman who was killed by falling rocks and a man in his 80s who had a heart attack.

The latest quake and the heavy waves that followed caused flooding in coastal towns and knocked out power in the worst hit areas of central Chile, although most buildings held up well.

The coastal town of Coquimbo was hit by waves of up to 15 feet after the earthquake, Chile's navy said.

'We're going through a really grave situation with the tsunami. We have residential neighborhoods that have flooded. The ocean has reached the downtown area,' said Coquimbo Mayor Cristian Galleguillos.

Crumbling: A huge pile of debris from a destroyed house lies on the street in Illapel, Chile, after the earthquake wrecked homes

Terrified: This home was damaged when the earthquake - the largest registered in the world this year - hit Chile on Wednesday

Stranded: Residents of Illapel, Chile, light a fire and chat in the streets after continuing aftershocks kept many away from their homes

Staying warm: A woman stands outside a destroyed house in Illapel, Chile. More than one million people were evacuated from their homes

Damage: A Chilean firefighter walks next to wooden debris after a tsunami wave reached the shore in Concon, destroying homes in its path

Waiting: A man sleeps outside his home to avoid the dangers of the continuing aftershocks throughout the evening

Fallen: Items from a restaurant or store lie under a pile of debris which has fallen from a collapsed building in Illapel

Salvage: People try to recover what they can from a shop destroyed by the 8.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday evening

Authorities said some houses collapsed in the inland city of Illapel, about 175 miles north of Santiago.

The town's mayor, Denis Cortes, told a local television station that a woman had been killed in the city but declined to give any details. Electricity was knocked out, leaving residents in darkness.

'We are very scared. Our city panicked,' Cortes said.

Pictures shared on Twitter in the immediate aftermath of the quake showed collapsed ceilings and toppled shelves in supermarkets.

More than a million people across the country left their homes after the government ordered evacuations from coastal areas, seeking to avoid a repeat of the disaster in 2010 when authorities were slow to warn of a tsunami and hundreds were killed.

President Michelle Bachelet said her government ‘learned a series of lessons’ from previous disasters and that she would travel to the worst affected areas

‘We're going to have go on the ground to see that the damages are and see where help is needed,’ Bachelet said.

Gathering: Thousands of people in Santiago took to the streets after the powerful earthquake struck not far away

Sticking together: The powerful earthquake shook Chile's capital, causing buildings to sway and people to take refuge in the streets

The quake-prone country has strict building regulations so newer buildings are able to withstand even strong quakes. But many homes in Illapel and surrounding areas are simple, adobe houses and are more prone to damage.

Chile runs along a highly seismic and volcanic zone where tectonic plates meet and often experiences earthquakes.

Last year, an 8.2-magnitude quake struck near the northern city of Iquique.

In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in central-southern Chile triggered a massive tsunami, and more than 500 people were killed.

In the hours after that quake, President Bachelet and her government misjudged the extent of damage and declined offers of international aid. This delayed the flow of assistance to disaster areas, leaving many survivors feeling they had been abandoned by the government.

Bachelet's government was also slow to prevent looting following the quake.

Fear on the streets: The huge tremor struck off the coast of Chile at a depth of 15.5 miles, authorities said

Waiting for news: There were no immediate reports on any injuries in Chile, where the powerful earthquake struck this evening

Huddled outside: Some families chose to stay outside for the night for fear of further tremors causing their homes to collapse

Chile is due to celebrate its national holiday on Friday, but roads were cut off and public transport canceled between Santiago and the north, local media reported.

The quake is the latest natural disaster to roil mining in Chile, which accounts for a third of global copper output.

Northern Chile was hit by severe floods earlier this year, while a volcanic eruption caused problems for residents in the south.

And in the wake of the yesterday’s earthquake, state copper miner Codelco and British-listed Antofagasta PLC suspended operations at two major copper mines, threatening over 600,000 tonnes of annual capacity.

It triggered London copper to reach its highest price in nearly two months. Chile and Peru are the world's top two suppliers of the metal. 

Working together: A group of men recover their belongings from a building in Concon, 68 miles northwest of the capital Santiago

Going: Locals walk past a damaged restaurant in Concon in the wake of the massive earthquake that forced more than a million to flee their homes

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