A tsunami warning for Chile, Peru and Equador has been issued after a magnitude-8 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile. 

The huge tremor has put all of Latin America’s Pacific Coast on tsunami alert, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) confirmed.”An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours,” the PTWC said.

Chile has requested the “preventative evacuation” of the country’s northern coastline, the country’s ONEMI emergency office said on its website.

The quake hit 53 miles (86km) northwest of the mining town of Iquique on Tuesday night.

It occurred just 6.2 miles (10 km) below the seabed – making it feel even more powerful.

The tremor shook buildings in parts of the nearby nations of Bolivia and Peru.

It is unknown whether a tsunami has been sparked, but officials believe it is likely.

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